Stogursey Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Stogursey Castle |
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| Somerset, England | |
The castle gatehouse
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 Stogursey Castle
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| Coordinates | 51°10′34″N 3°08′34″W / 51.1761°N 3.1429°W |
| Type | Motte-and-bailey |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Landmark Trust |
| Open to the public |
For holiday let |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
Stogursey Castle is an old castle from the Middle Ages located in Somerset, England. Most of the castle is now in ruins. However, its main gatehouse, which has a special straw roof (called 'thatched'), is still standing. People can even rent it for holidays through an organization called the Landmark Trust.
The Story of Stogursey Castle
Stogursey Castle was built near the village of Stogursey. It was likely constructed in the late 1000s or early 1100s. The De Courcy family probably built it. The name Stogursey comes from "Stoke Courcy."
The castle was a motte-and-bailey design. This means it had a large earth mound (the motte) and two fenced areas (baileys). The motte was about 60 meters (200 feet) wide and 2 meters (6.6 feet) tall. A moat filled with water surrounded the castle. This water came from the nearby Stogursey Brook.
King John of England took control of the castle during a conflict called the First Barons' War. In 1215, he ordered the castle to be destroyed, but it survived. After King John's officer, Falkes de Breauté, died, another order to destroy the castle was given in 1228. This order was also ignored.
The Fitzpayne family made the castle bigger with stone in the year 1300. But in the 1450s, the castle was destroyed. This happened during the War of the Roses, a big fight between two powerful families for the English throne. The Yorkist side was responsible for its destruction.
A house was built inside the castle grounds in the 1600s. It was fixed up in the 1870s. However, by the late 1900s, this house also became a ruin.
Today, Stogursey Castle is a scheduled monument. This means it is an important historical site protected by law. Its gatehouse is also a Grade II* listed building. The Landmark Trust restored the gatehouse between 1981 and 1982. Now, people can rent it for holidays.
