Berry Pomeroy Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Berry Pomeroy Castle |
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| General information | |
| Type | Castle |
| Location | Berry Pomeroy, England |
| Coordinates | 50°26′56″N 3°38′12″W / 50.4490°N 3.6366°W |
| Demolished | After 1694 |
| Owner | The 19th Duke of Somerset (with administration by English Heritage) |
Berry Pomeroy Castle is a fascinating old castle near the village of Berry Pomeroy in South Devon, England. It started as a castle built by the Pomeroy family in the late 1400s. Later, a grand Tudor mansion was built inside its walls.
The Pomeroy family owned the land for hundreds of years. But by 1547, they had money problems and sold the castle to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset. The castle has stayed with the Seymour family ever since, even though it was left empty in the late 1600s.
After being a ruin for about 100 years, Berry Pomeroy Castle became famous in the 1800s. People loved its "picturesque" look, meaning it was a beautiful ruin. It's still a popular place to visit today, partly because of its spooky stories about ghosts!
Between 1980 and 1996, archaeologists carefully dug up parts of the castle. Their discoveries helped us learn a lot about its real history. They found out it wasn't as old as people thought, and they also learned how it became a ruin.
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Where is Berry Pomeroy Castle?
Berry Pomeroy Castle is located about 1 mile (1.6 km) north-east of the village of Berry Pomeroy. It sits on a high rock made of limestone. This spot gives it a great view over a deep, wooded valley called Gatcombe Brook.
A Look Back: The Castle's Story
The Pomeroy Family's Castle
The de la Pomeroy family got this land shortly after the Norman Conquest in 1066. This is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086. Early records mention a main house at Berry, which was the center of their large estate.
In 1207, Henry Pomeroy created a deer park here. But the first time a "castle" is mentioned is in 1496. This record suggests the castle and the main house were in different places. The main house is now thought to have been near Berry House in the village.
Archaeologists believe the castle was built in the late 1400s. This is based on how the gun ports in the gatehouse and St. Margaret's Tower were designed. These parts, along with the outer curtain wall, are the oldest sections.
Berry Pomeroy was one of the last traditional castles built in England. It was placed in a favorite spot within the Pomeroy family's deer park.
When the Pomeroys owned it, the castle had a dry moat (a ditch, now mostly filled in). It also had a gatehouse and strong walls with buildings inside. Later changes mean we don't have many remains of these original buildings.
In 1978, a wall painting was found in the gatehouse. It was hidden behind thick plants. The painting shows the Adoration of the Magi and is from around 1490–1500.
The Seymour Family Takes Over
In 1547, Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset, bought the castle. He was a very powerful man, acting as a protector for the young King Edward VI. He bought many properties and might never have visited Berry Pomeroy.
Edward Seymour lost his power and was executed in 1552. All his lands then went to the Crown. But in 1558, after some complicated deals, his son, Lord Edward Seymour, got the castle. He became a very rich landowner.
Between 1560 and 1580, Lord Edward Seymour removed the old Pomeroy buildings inside the castle. He built a new, stylish four-story house at the north end of the courtyard. You can still see the remains of this house today.
After Sir Edward died in 1593, his son, also named Edward, took over. He added the North Range to the castle around 1600. He was worried about a Spanish invasion in the late 1500s. He was also a sheriff for Devon twice. He died in 1613. You can see a well-preserved monument to him in St Mary's Church, Berry Pomeroy.
His son, Sir Edward Seymour, 2nd Baronet, was a governor and a member of parliament. He was knighted in 1603. He lived a grand life at the castle. During the Civil War, he supported the Royalists (the King's side). He was captured, and Parliamentarians raided the castle.
His lands were taken by Oliver Cromwell, but he was allowed to stay at the castle. He died there in 1659. His son, Edward (later the 3rd Baronet), also supported the Royalists. He was imprisoned during the Civil War until 1655.
After the King returned to power in 1660, his life improved. He became a Deputy Lieutenant for Devon and a Vice-Admiral. He was also a member of parliament for Totnes. When he died in 1688, a list of everything in the castle was made. It showed the house had about fifty rooms. However, the buildings were probably not in great shape because of how much money Seymour had spent supporting the Royalist cause.
His son, Edward, 4th Baronet, inherited the castle in 1688. His mother, Lady Anne, stayed in the castle until she died in 1694. The castle was very comfortable at this time. The 4th baronet was a busy politician. He was a member of parliament for Exeter and later Speaker of the House of Commons.
Because Berry Pomeroy was far from London, he preferred to live at Bradley House in Maiden Bradley, Wiltshire. He had also inherited this house. It's thought that he took useful materials from Berry Pomeroy Castle to help rebuild Bradley House, which he finished in 1710.
Berry Pomeroy Castle was used until 1694. It was likely taken apart after Lady Anne died. By 1701, it was described as a ruin. John Prince, who knew the castle when it was grand, wrote in his book The Worthies of Devon:
- "...The rooms inside were very splendid; especially the dining room, which was decorated, besides paint, with statues and figures cut in alabaster [...] it is now destroyed, and all this glory lies in the dust..."
The Castle as a Romantic Ruin
In the late 1700s, people started to appreciate "picturesque" ruins. Berry Pomeroy Castle, with its crumbling walls and ivy, became a popular spot. Artists often visited and drew it, and it appeared in many books.
Around 1830, the Duke of Somerset repaired some of the falling walls. This was one of the first times someone tried to save a ruined building. He probably did this to keep visitors safe.
Uncovering Secrets: Digging Up the Past
Between 1980 and 1996, archaeologists did a lot of digging at the castle. These digs helped us understand its history much better. They changed many old ideas about the castle.
For example, people used to think the castle was much older. A guidebook from around 1940 said that the ruins were built by the de Pomeroy family after the Norman Conquest in 1066. However, the digs found no signs of buildings older than the late 1400s. Only a few pieces of old pottery were found. This means there was probably just a hunting lodge or a park-keeper's house there before the castle was built.
People also believed the castle was destroyed by cannon fire during the Civil War. Another idea was that it burned down after being hit by lightning. But the digs found no proof of either of these events. Instead, they showed that the buildings were carefully taken apart. Useful materials were removed to be used somewhere else.
Spooky Stories and Ghosts
Berry Pomeroy Castle is famous for its legends and ghost stories. The English Heritage guidebook says it's "one of the most haunted castles in Britain."
Two female ghosts are said to haunt the castle: the White Lady and the Blue Lady.
- The Blue Lady is said to call for help from people passing by. She tries to lure them to her tower, where they might fall to their death. Some say she was a Norman lord's daughter who wanders the dungeons, sad about her baby.
- The White Lady is thought to be the spirit of Margaret Pomeroy. She is said to haunt the dungeons because her sister, Eleanor, was jealous of her beauty and imprisoned her there. Sometimes, their stories get mixed up.
The castle has even been featured on TV shows like the BBC Timewatch documentary "White Slaves and Pirate Gold" and the British show Most Haunted.
Visiting Today
Today, Berry Pomeroy Castle is a Grade I listed building. This means it's a very important historic site. It is still owned by John Seymour, 19th Duke of Somerset. However, English Heritage helps manage and care for it.
You reach the castle by a modern half-mile (0.8 km) wooded drive. There's also a car park in an old quarry. This quarry was where much of the stone for the Pomeroy buildings came from.
More to Explore
- Castles in Great Britain and Ireland
- List of castles in England
- Seymour family
