Stowey Castle

Stowey Castle stands on a small, isolated knoll of Leighland Slates in the village of Nether Stowey on the Quantock Hills in Somerset. Built in the 11th century, it was a Norman motte-and-bailey castle with a square keep and two baileys. The motte rises 29 feet above a 6-foot-wide ditch that is 7 feet deep. The keep’s foundations measure about 33 feet by 33 feet, with traces of internal walls. Only the blue lias rubble foundations remain visible today. The castle is linked to Alfred of Spain, a Norman lord recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, who likely built it or commissioned its construction. The earliest written mention appears in a forged charter from 1154. Local legend suggests the castle was destroyed in the 15th century as punishment for Lord Audley’s role in the Second Cornish Uprising of 1497. Some of its stone was later reused in building Stowey Court. Visitors find a quiet, conical mound surrounded by a shallow ditch about 820 feet around. The flat top of the motte offers views over the Quantock Hills. Spoil heaps from amateur excavations in the 19th century dot the summit, possibly hiding remains of towers. The site is peaceful, with no crowds, and the ruins blend into the landscape. It is recognised as a Scheduled Monument and the keep’s foundations are a Grade I listed building.