Bampton Castle

Performance Spaces

Overview

History

Bibliographic Sources

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Venue Type & Location

Private Residence

Site Name: Bampton Castle
Location: near Bampton
County: Devon
Location Type: Town - near town at determined location

Overview

The Norman motte and bailey castle occupied a fine defensive site overlooking the valley of the River Bathern near its junction with the Exe. Bampton lay on the main northern route from Somerset to Exeter.

The remains of the motte lie at the NE end of the market town of Bampton. Traces of the rectangular bailey survive at the S and E.

Performance History

A probable performance venue. No relevant Bourghchier/Bouchier household records survive but entertainers under the family's patronage appeared elsewhere in Devon in the 15th and 16th c., as did John Sapcote's entertainers in the 1470s and 1480s. It is likely that they also performed at home for their patrons.

Current Status

The motte survives, freely accessible to the public.

History of the Venue

ca. 1068 Norman motte and bailey timber castle built.

late 12th c. Stone residence erected.

1336 Richard Cogan received licence to crenellate.

1388 Sir Fulk FitzWarin acquired Bampton via marriage to Elizabeth, daughter of Sir William Cogan.

1457 William Bourghchier acquired Bampton via marriage to Thomasine Hankeford.

1480--1501 John Sapcote held Bampton via marriage to Elizabeth, widow of Fulk Bourghchier, 4th Baron Fitzwarin.

early 17th c. Abandoned castle collapsed during an earthquake.

1796 Castle described as ruinous.

Record Source

REED Devon 30--2, 35

Patrons who owned this venue

Name Dates Titles
Affeton, Katherine 0-1467 Lady
Bourchier, Fulk 1445-1479 4th Baron
Bourchier, John 1470-1539 5th Baron , 2nd Earl of
Bourchier, John 1499-1561 Knight , Lord , 6th Baron , 3rd Earl of , Baron
Bourchier, John 1529-1557 Lord , Knight
Bourchier, William 1414-1469 3rd Baron
Bourchier, William 1557-1623 Baron , 7th Baron , 4th Earl of
Sapcote, John 1448-1501 Knight

Bibliographic Sources

View a list of abbreviations.

  • Cherry, Bridget, and Nikolaus Pevsner. Devon. The Buildings of England. London: Penguin Books, 1989.
  • The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom. 1887–98 (8 vols); 1910–59 (13 vols). 6 vols. Gloucester: Alan Sutton, 1982.
  • Higham, R.A., and Ann Hamlin. 'Bampton Castle, Devon: History and Archaeology.' Devon Archaeological Society Proceedings 48 (1990): 101–10.
  • Hoskins, W.G. Devon. A New Survey of England. Newton Abbot: David & Charles, 1973.
  • Lysons, Daniel and Samuel. Magna Britannia; being a concise topographical account of the several counties of Great Britain. 6 vols. London: T. Cadell and W. Davies, 1806–22.
  • Mackenzie, James D. The Castles of England: Their Story and Structure. 2 vols. New York: The Macmillan Co., 1896.
  • Polwhele, Richard. The History of Devonshire. 1st ed. [1793–1806] printed by Trewman and Son for: Cadell, Johnson and Dilly (vol 1); Cadell, Dilly and Murray (vol 2); Cadell and Davies (vol 3); all in London. 3 vols. Dorking: Kohler & Coombes, 1977.
  • Salter, Mike. The Castles of Devon and Cornwall. Malvern, Worc: Folly Publications, 1999.
  • 'Second Day's Proceedings: Bampton Mote; or Mount.' Somersetshire Archaeological and Natural History Society Proceedings 93 (1947): 14–16.
  • Wilson-North, W.R. 'Bampton Castle: An Earthwork Survey by the Royal Commission on the Historical Monuments of England.' Devon Archaeological Society Proceedings 49 (1991): 115–19.