Totnes Castle
| Totnes Castle | |
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| Devon, England | |
Keep of Totnes Castle
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 Totnes Castle
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| Coordinates | 50°25′56″N 3°41′28″W / 50.4321°N 3.6910°WCoordinates: 50°25′56″N 3°41′28″W / 50.4321°N 3.6910°W |
| Grid reference | grid reference SX800605 |
| Type | Shell keep on motte-and-bailey |
| Site information | |
| Owner | English Heritage |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Devonian limestone and red sandstone |
Totnes Castle is one of the best preserved examples of a Norman motte and bailey castle in England. It is situated in the town of Totnes on the River Dart in Devon. The surviving stone keep and curtain wall date from around the 14th century. From after the Norman Conquest of 1066 it was the caput of the Feudal barony of Totnes.
The castle occupies a commanding position atop a large hill above the town, and guards the approach to three valleys.
The first castle on this site is believed to have been built by the Breton Juhel of Totnes (also known as Judhael) who was one of William the Conqueror's lieutenants. The feudal barony of Totnes was granted to him in 1068, and in order to cement his control over the area he constructed a fortification and founded Totnes Priory within the town. This first construction probably consisted of a wooden palisade and tower. On the death of King William I, Juhel lost his lands, possibly as a result of his support for the Rebellion of 1088. The feudal barony of Totnes was then granted to Roger de Nonant, whose descendants appear to have held it for the next three generations. Following this it came into the possession of William de Braose, 3rd Lord of Bramber, who is probably responsible for constructing the first stone shell keep and walls on the site.
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