Culverhay Castle

Culverhay Castle stands on a low earthwork ringwork east of Englishcombe village church in Somerset. The ringwork ditch and bank rise up to 1.5 metres deep and enclose the remains of a stone circular keep and a short curtain wall. Within the ringwork archaeologists have found traces of one or two other stone buildings. A medieval deer park may once have stretched from the castle grounds. The castle was probably begun in the late 11th century and enlarged with stone in the 13th century. In 1938 the site was excavated by archaeologist Nigel Pounds, who confirmed the layout of the keep and wall. Today the grass-covered earthworks and stone foundations form a scheduled monument. Visitors walk along the raised bank that circles the site and look down into the shallow ditch. Inside the ringwork the low stone foundations of the keep and other buildings are still visible. The church next door and the quiet lanes of Englishcombe add to the peaceful atmosphere of the place.