CASTLES EXETER

Exeter Castle, also known as Rougemont Castle, is a historic medieval fortress built into the northern corner of Exeter's Roman city walls beginning in or shortly after 1068 in response to the city's rebellion against William the Conqueror. The castle's impressive gatehouse, preserved as a distinctive medieval structure, is celebrated as one of England's oldest standing castle buildings. Enlarged in the 12th century with an outer bailey, the castle gained particular historical notoriety as the venue for trying the three Devon Witches in 1682, the last people executed for witchcraft in England. King Stephen besieged the castle for three months in 1136, and it figures in Shakespeare's Richard III regarding that king's 1483 visit to Exeter. Devon's county court operated from the castle grounds beginning in 1607, cementing its role as an administrative and judicial centre. Today the castle grounds remain partially open to the public while the interior functions as an exclusive event venue for weddings, conferences, and special occasions in the heart of Devon.

Castle Drogo is a striking granite edifice overlooking Dartmoor near Exeter, Devon, designed by renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens and built between 1911 and 1930 for millionaire Julius Drewe. Often cited as the last castle built in England, this 20th-century structure blends medieval and Tudor architectural styles with modern amenities. The castle features a dramatic clifftop setting with impressive views across the surrounding moorland landscape. The estate includes formal gardens designed by Lutyens, with terraced grounds, vibrant flower beds, and a charming Rhododendron valley. Today managed by the National Trust, Castle Drogo offers visitors a unique glimpse into Edwardian country house living within an architectural masterpiece.

Powderham Castle is a fortified manor house begun by Sir Philip Courtenay in 1390 on the banks of the Exe near Exeter, Devon, that has served as the seat of the Earls of Devon for over 700 years. Situated within an ancient deer park beside the Exe estuary, the castle combines Victorian exterior architecture—a 19th-century recreation by Charles Fowler—with an elegant Georgian interior featuring moulded plasterwork ceilings. The castle houses a remarkable collection of fine art, furniture, tapestries and ceramics across its rooms. Over 150 acres of grounds include the Rose Garden and Belvedere Tower, and the castle has welcomed more than a million visitors since opening to the public in 1959.