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Federation of Old Cornwall Societies
Registered Charity No. 247283 |
The comprehensive gazetteer of the medieval fortifications and castles of CornwallWith thanks to Philip Davis |
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Federation of Old Cornwall Societies
Registered Charity No. 247283 |
The comprehensive gazetteer of the medieval fortifications and castles of CornwallWith thanks to Philip Davis |
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Bodrugan
In the
civil parish of St Goran. Spreadbury writes that, according to Borlase, a splendid castle in Goran of which remains survived till the end of C18?. The PastScape gives SX002436 (NMRN 431109) for an alleged site of a castle with no further supporting evidence. There is also an uncertain earthwork nearby called Castle Hill at SX000437 (NMRN 431118), and a square earthwork marked castle on the 1st edition OS at SX024427. However, in my opinion, Borlase's castle is most likely Bodrugan Barton, described in the PastScape as 'Medieval barton owned by the Bodrugan family. The buildings comprised a farmhouse and chapel and were accompanied possibly by a park. The chapel is documented in 1372, and like other buildings in the complex was pulled down in 1786. Only a wall of the chapel remains as part of a barn.' This is clearly high status enough to be called a castle and the date for destruction is correct. Leland records Bodrugan Park as having contained the 'house' of Sir Henry Bodrugan.This site has been described as a Timber Castle.These are the earthwork and timber castles of the motte and bailey or ringwork form which where the vast majority of castles of the early conquest period, of the Marches in the 11th and 12th centuries and of the period during the reign of Stephen known as the Anarchy. They were generally fairly short lived, although some such castles survived for centuries, with the timber buildings and defences being replaced on occasions sometimes in timber and sometimes in Masonry (Alderton Castle in Northamptonshire was shown in a Time Team excavation to have been built about 1070 and to still have been having high status visitors in the C15-a fine piece of enamels horse harness being found in the gatehouse). Some of the smaller low mottes may have been adapted into moated manor houses, whilst others where abandoned and replaced by manor houses of a more comfortable and domestic nature. Timber castles varied greatly in size with some being massive constructions clearly deserving the term castle, whilst other were small mounds of minor knights and had a similar size, function and social status as the later pele towers. These small mottes are called 'castle' but this could be considered a rather loose use of the term.
The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SX01534350
Sources of information, references and further readingPastScape number; 431106
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"Cuntelleugh an brewyon us gesys na vo kellys travyth"
(Gather up the fragments that are left that nothing be lost.)
The Federation of Old Cornwall Societies is a Registered Charity No. 247283
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