Bickleigh Castle

En un regard

Le château en bref

Nestled at the bottom of the Exe valley, a few kilometres south of Tiverton, Bickleigh Castle is less a fortress than a moated fortified manor house, whose most spectacular feature is an imposing stone gatehouse. This gatehouse, listed Grade I, contains a passage with a ribbed vault of chamfered ribs adorned with heraldic bosses, framed by projecting turrets on both of its faces. The site was long associated with two great Devon lineages: the Courtenays, Earls of Devon, and then the Carews, who inherited it in the early 16th century and kept it until the 1920s. The Carew arms, combined with those of the Courtenays, still recall this alliance above the entrance. The Civil War marked a turning point: after the passage of Fairfax's Parliamentarian troops, the main house was largely destroyed, and only the gatehouse, a small and very ancient chapel and some outbuildings survived. In the 20th century, several successive owners raised the ruins, giving the ensemble the romantic appearance it is known for today. Privately owned, the castle now lives mainly from weddings and stays, while offering guided tours by appointment.