Cary Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Cary Castle |
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| Somerset, England | |
Earthworks of Cary Castle
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 Cary Castle
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| Coordinates | 51°05′17″N 2°30′50″W / 51.0880°N 2.5140°W |
| Type | Motte and bailey |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Only earthworks remain |
Cary Castle was an old castle located on Lodge Hill. It overlooked the town of Castle Cary in Somerset, England. Today, only its earthworks remain. It is protected as a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it's an important historical site.
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About Cary Castle
Cary Castle was a type of castle called a motte and bailey. This design was popular in early medieval times. A "motte" is a raised earth mound, often with a tower on top. A "bailey" is a walled courtyard below the motte.
The castle was likely built by Walter of Douai or his son Robert. Robert also built another castle, Bampton Castle, in Devon.
A Time of Trouble: The Anarchy
Cary Castle played a part in a difficult period in English history. This time was known as The Anarchy. It was a civil war that lasted from 1135 to 1153. During this time, King Stephen and Empress Matilda fought for the throne.
Robert, who owned Cary Castle, was exiled by King Stephen. The castle was then given to Ralph Lovel. However, Ralph Lovel chose to support Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester. The Earl was against King Stephen.
In 1138, King Stephen decided to attack Cary Castle. He used fire and large stones from siege engines to try and break through. The castle's defenders eventually gave up because they ran out of food.
Changing Hands
In 1143, King Stephen lost control of the West Country. This happened after the Battle of Wilton. Henry de Tracy then took over Cary Castle. He even built a new stronghold in front of the old castle.
However, this new part was quickly destroyed. This happened when William Fitz Robert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester, arrived with his soldiers. Later, the Lovel family managed to get the castle back. Their family continued to be lords of the area until the 14th century.
What Happened to the Castle?
By 1468, Cary Castle was no longer in use. It had been abandoned. Around that time, a large manor house was built near the castle site. It might have been built by Baron Zouche.
The manor house later belonged to Edward Seymour, 1st Duke of Somerset. By the 1630s, Edward Kirton lived there. Most of this manor house was pulled down in the late 1700s.
Discovering the Past
In 1890, archaeologists dug up the site of Cary Castle. They found the foundations of a large stone tower, called a keep. This tower was about 24 meters (79 feet) square. They also found evidence of an inner and an outer bailey.
Today, only the earthworks of the castle can be seen. These are the mounds and ditches that show where the castle once stood. Some of the original stonework from the castle can still be found in buildings in the town. You can also learn more about the castle's history at the Castle Cary and District Museum.
