TimeRef.com
  • Episodes
    Episode Index
    Key Dates Timelines
    By Category
    This day in history
  • People
    A..Z List of Medieval People
    Kings and Queens of England Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emperors of Byzantine Popes and Antipopes Crusader States and their Rulers
    Family Trees
  • Life
    Life in Medieval Times
    Life in a Castle The Feudal System Country Life and Agriculture Life in a Medieval Town Life in a Religious Community
  • Castles
    Castle Index Page Castle Development
    Early Fortifications Motte and Bailey Castles Square Keeps Castles of William the Conqueror Concentric Castles Castles of Edward I
    Castle Siege Tactics Parts of a Castle
    Locations of over 300 Castles UK Castles by County
  • Places
    A..Z list of Medieval Buildings 3D Virtual Reconstructions Maps Photographs
    Abbeys and Monasteries Cathedrals Medieval Architecture
  • 3D/VR
    3D Virtual Reconstructions VR Experiences
    Virtual Motte and Bailey Castle Virtual Norman Keep Virtual Siege Engines
    Bodiam Castle Skenfrith Castle Middleham Castle The White Tower Etal Castle
    Knights Training
  • More
    Test your Knowledge
    Glossary of Terms Scriptorium
    Games Early Access
    Copyright / About TimeRef.com Contact the Author
TimeRef.com
  • Episodes
    Episode Index
    Key Dates Timelines
    By Category
    This day in history
  • People
    A..Z List of Medieval People
    Kings and Queens of England Kings of Scotland Kings of France Kings of Denmark Emperors of Byzantine Popes and Antipopes Crusader States and their Rulers
    Family Trees
  • Life
    Life in Medieval Times
    Life in a Castle The Feudal System Country Life and Agriculture Life in a Medieval Town Life in a Religious Community
  • Castles
    Castle Index Page Castle Development
    Early Fortifications Motte and Bailey Castles Square Keeps Castles of William the Conqueror Concentric Castles Castles of Edward I
    Castle Siege Tactics Parts of a Castle
    Locations of over 300 Castles UK Castles by County
  • Places
    A..Z list of Medieval Buildings 3D Virtual Reconstructions Maps Photographs
    Abbeys and Monasteries Cathedrals Medieval Architecture
  • 3D/VR
    3D Virtual Reconstructions VR Experiences
    Virtual Motte and Bailey Castle Virtual Norman Keep Virtual Siege Engines
    Bodiam Castle Skenfrith Castle Middleham Castle The White Tower Etal Castle
    Knights Training
  • More
    Test your Knowledge
    Glossary of Terms Scriptorium
    Games Early Access
    Copyright / About TimeRef.com Contact the Author
  1. Home
  2. Medieval Places
  3. Restormel Castle
Castle
Castle
Please note that the TimeRef website is currently being redesigned.

Restormel Castle

Tweet
 County

Cornwall (7 castles) 

 Categories

Motte & Bailey / Stone / Baronial castle

 Remains

Small amount survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Comments

An excellent example of a shell-keep.  

 Location50.42178,-4.67047 (Google Maps) DirectionsDirections via Google Maps
 County

Cornwall (7 castles) 

 Categories

Motte & Bailey / Stone / Baronial castle

 Remains

Small amount survives

 Access

Only open at certain times

 Comments

An excellent example of a shell-keep.  

 Location
50.42178,-4.67047
 Directions
Directions via Google Maps
estormel Castle is located in Cornwall a mile to the north of Lostwithiel. A motte and bailey castle with a roughly rectangular bailey was built at Restormel in around 1100 by the Norman Baldwin Fitz Turstin. Restormel castle has an excellent example of a shell-keep. A shell-keep is a circular construction built usually on top of the motte with the buildings arranged around the inside. The height of the remains of the shell-keep at Restormel are still to the battlements in places. The concentric inner wall formed the two-storey accommodation between it and the outer wall and enclosed a circular courtyard. The ground floor was used for store rooms and the upper floor was used for living chambers and the great hall. on the eastern side of the sheel-keep and extending out into the ditch around the motte is the chapel block. On the western side is the gate house. This would have had a drawbridge for protection.

The castle passed first to the Cardinham family and eventually became part of the Duchy of Cornwall. Very little appears to have happened at Restormel, but it was garrisoned by Parliamentary troops during the English Civil War and captured by Sir Richard Grenville in 1644.

Location

See Also

People

  • Edward (The Black Prince)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Places

  • Trematon Castle
  • Totnes Castle
  • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles

Location Map (click to explore)

An imaginative plan of the Restormel Castle shell-keep

Click on the image for a larger version

Alternatively view a simplified 3D model of a Shell Keep

Timeline

1100

...

Construction of Restormel Castle

In around 1100 a castle was built at Restormel by the Norman Baldwin Fitz Turstin.

1354

...

The Black Prince at Restormel Castle

Restormal Castle hosted Edward, the Black Prince and his court.

1365

...

The Black Prince at Restormel Castle

Restormal Castle hosted Edward, the Black Prince and his court.

3D Virtual Reconstructions

Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past. Built using the popular game development tool Unity 3D, these reconstructions will run in the most of the popular web browsers on your desktop or laptop computer.

Medieval people

Uncover the lives of the hundreds of kings, queens, lords, ladies, barons, earls, archbishops and rebels who made the medieval people an exciting period of history to live through.

Location

See Also

People

  • Edward (The Black Prince)
  • A .. Z List of Medieval People

Places

  • Trematon Castle
  • Totnes Castle
  • A .. Z List of Medieval Buildings

Related Information

  • Why build and live in castles
  • Castle development timeline
  • Keep and bailey castles
  • Castles of William the Conqueror
  • Motte and bailey castles
  • Shell-Keeps
  • Square keeps
  • Polygonal Keeps
  • Castles of Edward I
  • Parts of a castle
  • Location of lots of castles
  • Castle construction timeline

Related Maps

  • Map of Castles
3D/VR

Virtual Buildings

Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past.

Explore the White Tower

Explore four floors of the keep at the Tower of London.

 

Adventure Game - Early Access

Early Access to the TimeRef card-based Adventure Game.

 

Medieval Village - Early Access

Explore the medieval village.

 

^ Back to top

          x-small

          small

          medium

          large

          x-large

          x-x-large

          This popup will contain more information
          This popup will contain more information
          xyz
          xyz