Compton Castle

In the civil parish of Marldon.
In the historic county of Devon (Modern Authority of Devon, 1974 county of Devon).

Medieval fortified house, seat of the Gilberts. Circa 1320 manor house with work of circa 1450, extended and fortified in circa 1500 to early C16. Restored circa 1930-55. Hall rebuilt 1954-5. Built of local limestone rubble with red sandstone and white Beer-stone dres- sings and granite corbels, lintels and copings. Slate roofs. Only parts of the screens passage survive of the early C14 four-bay hall which was reconstructed in C20. At the west end the solar and withdrawing room with a polygonal bay window to the west, a large tower on the south west and a chapel projecting at right angles to the hall to the north west are all circa mid C15. The chapel has Perpendicular four-light windows and a pointed turned vaulted roof with a priest's room above. At the east service end of the hall the buttery and pantry and offices including angle towers to the north east and south east and the kitchen wing to the south east with another tower on the south east corner are all circa 1500. Also of circa 1500 is the north front wall in line with the end of the projecting chapel and service wings which forms a small court in front of the hall. This front elevation is almost symmetrical and has a contemporary corner tower to the right hand (north west) to balance the left hand (north east) tower, both gabled (although in different directions) and with corbelled oriels. The main portcullis entrance is slightly to left of centre with its corbelled machicolations and battlements to the high courtyard wall, the Perpendicular north window of the chapel on the right hand and the service room to the left. To the far left another portcullis to the postern gateway. Outer walls to the east, west and south with another tower on the south east corner circa early C16. All the towers are square with gabled roofs. Compton was abandoned by the Gilbert family in circa 1750 and became a farm. It was bought back by the Gilberts in C20. As well as reconstructing the hall Compton was thoroughly restored. Originally the land was held by the Comptons. Joan daughter and heiress of William de Compton married Geoffrey Gilbert who built the house in circa 1320.

This site has been described as a;
Fortified Manor House.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Major remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.
This site is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law*. (Images of England number 100611)

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SX86546485

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 446388

• Web site links
  • http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/historicproperties/index.cfm?fuseaction=property&property_id=18
    http://www.touruk.co.uk/houses/housedev_comp.htm
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_south/202/comptoncastle.htm
    http://viewfinder.english-heritage.org.uk/search/adv_reference.asp?imageUID=73512
• Books
  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol3 (Cambridge) p519-22
    Higham, Robert A., 1999, 'Castles, Fortified Houses and Fortified Towns in the Middle Ages' in Kain, R. and Ravenhill, W., Historical Atlas of South-West England (University of Exeter Press) p136-43
    Salter, Mike, 1999, The Castles of Devon and Cornwall (Malvern) p53-5
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p55-6 [plan]
    Mildren, James, 1987, Castles of Devon (Bossiney Books) p73-7
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p121
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p212
    Pevsner, Nikolaus, 1952, Buildings of England: South Devon p90
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England (Heinemann) Vol2 p26
    Timbs, J. and Gunn, A., 1872, Abbeys, Castles and Ancient Halls of England and Wales Vol1 (London) p475-7
    Turner, T.H. and Parker, J.H., 1859, Some account of Domestic Architecture in England (Oxford) Vol3 pt2 p147 and plate, 352-3
    Lysons, D. and S., 1822, Magna Britannia Vol6 Devon p. cccxlv-cccxlviii [http://www.british-history.ac.uk/source.asp?pubid=406]
• Journal Articles
  • Higham, R.A., 1988, 'Devon Castles: an annotated list' Proceedings of the Devon Archaeological Society Vol46 p142-9
    Kenyon, J.R., 1981 'Early Artillery Fortifications in England and Wales: a Preliminary Survey and Re-appraisal' Archaeological Journal Vol138 p227
    Haslam, R., 1981 Nov 5, Country Life Vol170 p1546
    Everett, A.W., 1956, 'The Rebuilding of the Hall of Compton Castle' Devonshire Association reports and transactions Vol88 p75-85
    Everett, A.W., 1939, 'Compton Castle' Devonshire Association reports and transactions Vol71 p343-45
    Thompson, A.H., 1913, Archaeological Journal Vol70 p544-6
    Gibbs, R., 1904-5, 'Compton Castle' Devon Cornwall Notes Queries Vol3 p209-16
    Compton, 1883, Journal British Archaeological Association Vol39 p337-43 [history of descent]
    Spence, 1867, Exeter Diocesan Architectural Society [new ser] Vol1 p29-54 [slight]
    Hills, G.M., 1863, Journal British Archaeological Association Vol19 p1-12
• Guidebooks
  • Gilbert, W.R., 1979, Compton Castle, Devon (National Trust)
    1971, Compton Castle Guide Book (National Trust)
    Anon, 1957, Compton Castle Guide Book (National Trust)