CASTLES OKEHAMPTON

Okehampton Castle, Devon's largest medieval fortress, towers over a valley near the northern edge of Dartmoor. Begun in 1068 by Baldwin FitzGilbert following the Norman Conquest, it evolved from an earth-and-timber stronghold into a luxurious stone residence during the 14th and 15th centuries under the Courtenay family. The castle features a prominent keep, great hall, and extensive domestic buildings. Its fortunes declined dramatically in the 16th century when Henry Courtenay, the last Earl, was executed for treason by King Henry VIII. By the English Civil War, Okehampton had fallen into ruin, with its stones plundered for local construction, and today the atmospheric remains stand as testament to its once-grand medieval significance.

Lydford Castle and Saxon Town near Okehampton presents a rare multi-layered defensive landscape on the edge of Dartmoor, comprising three distinct historical layers. A 13th-century stone tower on a mound served as a notorious medieval prison, its harsh conditions earning descriptions as the realm's most contagious and detestable place. To the south lies a Norman earthwork castle with evidence of wooden structures behind defensive ramparts. To the north stand the remarkable Saxon town defences from the 9th-century burh system, with grid-pattern streets and a mint that once generated tax revenue equivalent to major Devon towns, reflecting prosperity rooted in tin trade.