Tiverton Castle

Tiverton Castle stands above the River Exe in Devon on the site of a Norman motte built in 1106. After the Civil War it was partly dismantled, leaving a group of ruined walls, towers and buildings from different centuries. The castle’s defensive position once made it a stronghold, and traces of its past strength remain visible today. The siege of 1645 shows how the castle played a part in history. Sir Thomas Fairfax’s Parliamentarian forces used the Culverin, the largest artillery of the New Model Army, to fire up to 2,000 yards. A lucky shot broke the drawbridge chain and allowed entry, ending the siege quickly. John Rushworth’s contemporary account records the capture of Colonel Sir Gilbert Talbot and more than two hundred soldiers inside the castle. Visitors walk among the remaining perimeter walls and towers that once formed a much larger stronghold. The site includes buildings from various periods, showing how the castle was adapted over time. Views over the River Exe stretch from the elevated position, giving a sense of the strategic spot chosen centuries ago. The ruins stand as evidence of both military history and later peaceful change.