Bickleigh Castle

Bickleigh Castle stands beside the River Exe in Devon, a fortified manor built on the remains of a Norman motte. Its surviving buildings cluster around a central courtyard, with a 12th-century gatehouse and a chapel that may date from the 7th century. The site once included a larger complex, much of which was destroyed during the English Civil War. The castle’s history includes royal visitors and dramatic events. In 1644, Queen Henrietta Maria stayed here and gave birth to Princess Henrietta Anne Stuart. The Carew family owned the estate for centuries, and their ties to the castle are reflected in surviving carvings and structures. The gatehouse, chapel and North Range survive as Grade I listed buildings, each telling part of the story. Visitors find a group of stone buildings arranged around a courtyard, with a chapel east of the main structures. The gatehouse leads into the heart of the site, while Moat Cottage and the North Range sit to the north and south. The grounds include landscaped gardens, fish ponds and a stable block converted for events. The castle’s layered past remains visible in its walls and carvings.