Botreaux Castle

Performance Spaces

Overview

History

Bibliographic Sources

Legend
map legend

Base layers

Data layers

Other Images

Earthworks
Elizabethan view
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Venue Type & Location

Private Residence

Site Name: Botreaux Castle
Location: Botreaux Castle
County: Cornwall
Location Type: Countryside - at determined location

Overview

Botreaux Castle was located at the junction of 2 valleys on a slope overlooking the harbour of Boscastle on the NE coast of Cornwall.

The 12th c. castle of the Botreaux family was abandoned as a residence and ruinous by the 16th c. Only some grass-covered earthworks remain at the end of Jordans ridge.

Performance History

A probable performance venue. No relevant Botreaux household records survive but entertainers under Lord Botreaux's patronage appeared in Devon in the early 15th c. It is likely that they also performed at home for their patron.

Current Status

Located in a public park, freely accessible during the daytime.

History of the Venue

12th c. Stone motte and bailey castle built by the Botreaux family.

1462 William, 3rd Baron Botreaux, killed in battle. Manor inherited by his daughter, Margaret, wife of Robert, 2nd Baron Hungerford. Castle subsequently abandoned.

Record Source

REED Devon 85--6, 90--4

Patrons who owned this venue

Name Dates Titles
Botreaux, William de 1389-1462 3rd Baron

Bibliographic Sources

View a list of abbreviations.

  • Carew, Richard. Richard Carew of Antony: The Survey of Cornwall. F.E. Halliday, ed. London: Andrew Melrose, 1953.
  • Castle UK. 04/19/2005 (http://www.castleuk.net/)
  • 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.
  • Pevsner, Nikolaus. Cornwall. Radcliffe, Enid, rev. The Buildings of England. Harmondsworth, Midd: Penguin Books, 1970.
  • Salter, Mike. The Castles of Devon and Cornwall. Malvern, Worc: Folly Publications, 1999.