Hemyock Castle - Guidebook: Tour and Historical Information

by Richard Sheppard, Margaret Sheppard

Just Imagine... ...that you are a King’s messenger in the late 14th century, bringing important dispatches to King Richard II’s trusted lieutenant, the irascible Sir William Asthorpe. After riding for days, you come over the hill and get your first glimpse of the astonishing white structure that is the new Hemyock Castle... The substantial remains of Hemyock Castle are a privately owned, scheduled ancient monument; normally open to visitors on Bank Holiday Monday afternoons, 2 to 5pm, between Easter and September. The remains have not been "restored" or rebuilt, so mostly date from the original 1380 moated medieval castle. This guidebook leads visitors around the Hemyock Castle site, displays and Interpretation Centre, explaining the history of the site, the notable owners, and this area of Devon. Many of these displays were originally designed to help teachers to interest their pupils in history. Book Hemyock Castle – A Guided Tour Welcome to Hemyock Castle Just Imagine... Brief History Hemyock Hemyock Castle Hemyock Castle Trail Castle Site Plan 1. The Gatehouse Arch 2. The Gatehouse Towers 3. The Bay Tree & North East Tower 4. The Civil War Dungeon 5. The Moat 6. The North West Tower 7. The South West Tower 8. Interpretation Centre Hemyock Castle Model Margaret Hydon Sir John Popham Civil War Period Joane Illery Farmer Tuck Village School Regency Period Licence to Crenellate, Granted on 5th November 1380 General John Graves Simcoe Peter Orlando Hutchinson of Sidmouth 9. Farmyard 10. The Cider Press 11. Cow Parlour 12. Reception Hut Entry in the Domesday Book Notable Owners Robert Foliot Hidons (or Hydons) of Clayhidon Dynhams (or Dinhams) of Dinan, Hartland, Ilsington & Nutwell Sir William and Lady Margaret Asthorpe Carew, Bourchier, Zouche and Arundell Lord Chief Justice Sir John Popham (1531 to 1607) Everys and Leighs General John Graves and Elizabeth Posthuma Simcoe Bartons Lords Sheppards Further Information (Links) Hemyock Castle Website Visitor Information Our Books and Videos Hemyock Castle Glossaries Feudal, Medieval and Castle Terms Ancient Weights and Measures Ancient and Slang Money Terms Political, Legal, Property, & Government Terms Hemyock was a royal manor. On 5th November 1380, young King Richard II granted permission to Sir William Asthorpe and his heiress wife Lady Margaret Asthorpe (née Dynham) to crenellate their fortified manor house. The castle plan is typical of late medieval A moated rectangular structure with tall round corner towers and central interval towers, connected by a high curtain wall; all topped with crenellations. Most buildings were of chert, a local flint stone. The castle was built around the existing manor house. By the Civil War (mid 1600s), Hemyock Castle and most of Hemyock belonged to the Pophams, family of the late Sir John Popham, Lord Chief Justice for Queen Elizabeth I who had helped sentence Mary Queen of Scots, Sir Walter Raleigh, and Guy Fawkes to death. Hemyock Castle was garrisoned for Parliament and used to imprison Royalists.

36 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2019