Cranmore Castle facts for kids
Cranmore Castle
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 Location in Devon
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| Location | Near Tiverton, Devon, England |
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| Coordinates | 50°53′45.6″N 3°28′55.2″W / 50.896000°N 3.482000°W |
Cranmore Castle is an ancient site in England. It's an earthwork from the Iron Age. This means it's a large structure made of earth. It sits on a hillside above the town of Tiverton in Devon. It is a protected historical site.
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What is Cranmore Castle?
Cranmore Castle is a very old earthwork. It was built during the Iron Age. This was a time when people used iron tools. It's located on a hill near Tiverton, Devon. Many guidebooks call it an Iron Age hill fort. However, some experts think it might have been something different.
Why it's unusual
This earthwork is a bit strange for a fort. It can be seen from a higher hill nearby. This would make it hard to defend. Also, the area it covers slopes quite a lot. It goes from about 120 meters (390 feet) to 170 meters (560 feet) above sea level.
Despite these things, Cranmore Castle offers great views. You can see other important ancient sites from here. These include Cadbury Castle and Hembury fort. This suggests these places might have been used at the same time. It also overlooks where two rivers meet. These are the Lowman and the Exe. It also watches over old river crossings.
What was it used for?
Experts have different ideas about Cranmore Castle. It might have been a place to keep farm animals in winter. It could also have been a market where people traded goods. Some think it was a large tribal center. This would be like a main town for a group of people.
The earthworks are very big and strong. This supports the idea of it being an important place. It is one of the largest ancient enclosures in Devon. It covers more than 15 acres (6 hectares).
A Battle Long Ago
Cranmore Castle was once the site of a battle. This happened in 1549 during the Prayer Book Rebellion. This was a time when people disagreed about religion. The battle was fought over how a child should be baptized. It took place near a small chapel. This chapel stood at one corner of the site.
The chapel was taken down in the 1600s. Later, in 1687, old bones and musket shots were found there. People believed these were from the battle.
What's in a Name?
The name Cranmore Castle is a bit of a mystery. "Cranmore" is not a common local name. It doesn't appear in very old records of the area.
One idea is that the name comes from the battle. The archbishop at the time was Thomas Cranmer. So, it's possible the name "Cranmore Castle" came from "Cranmer Castle." This would be in memory of the battle fought there.
