Federation of Old Cornwall Societies

Registered Charity 

No. 247283 

  THE GATEHOUSE 

The comprehensive gazetteer of the medieval fortifications and castles of Cornwall

With thanks to Philip Davis

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List of Fortifications and Castles

Confidence

The confidence key is very much a guide and not a definitive statement. These classifications are not fixed and can and do change. A notable example would be Acton Bank in Shropshire which David J. Cathcath King rejected as a burial mound but which on a latter aerial photograph clearly shows the crop mark of a bailey. It should also be remembered that many authors, particularly older authorities like King, held a very military definition of the castle and some sites that are rejected may actual fulfil a less military definition. The confidence guide is not a statement of how certain it is that a site existed but how certain it is that a site existed as a fortification or as otherwise described. I have attempted to record all sites that have ever been proposed as medieval fortifications including all that have since been rejected.

• When there is clear archaeological and/or historical evidence for a site being the described type of site it is recorded as certain.
• Where the balance of evidence from the available sources makes it likely that the site is the described type it is recorded as possible.
• Where the balance of evidence from the available sources makes it unlikely that the site is the described type it is recorded as questionable.
• Where a site has been rejected by a credible authority and is not otherwise supported it is recorded as rejected.

It should be noted that David King's 'possible' sites, in Castellarium Anglicanum, tend to be closer to my questionable sites.

Remains

I have attempted to give some idea of the amount of visible remains. I have not visited all the sites listed and this information is based on site descriptions and may well be out of date or otherwise inaccurate. The remains categories are;

• No visible remains - Nothing can be seen although buried remains may exist.
• Cropmarks/slight earthworks - The site is identifiable only by slight earthworks or cropmarks.
• Earthworks - Earthworks remain from the site. These may be seriously eroded or damaged up to basically intact.
• Masonry footings - The foundations of masonry buildings are visible. Sometimes post medieval building may reuse or overlie the foundations. Masonry here includes brickwork.
• Masonry ruins/remnants - There are masonry ruins or masonry remnants incorporated into a later building.
• Major remains - There are substantial masonry remains with architectural details. This would also include timber framed building in good condition.
• Uncertain - I am uncertain as to the amount of visible remains.