South east view of the castle of Tiverton in the county of Devon. Anno 1730 (1790)

Dunsford, Martin. Historical memoirs of the town and parish of Tiverton. Exeter: M. Dunsford. 1790. pp. 298-304.THE CASTLE.FROM the present remains, some records and traditionary accounts, it appears, that the castle of Tiverton was, at some past period, a building nearly quadrangular, inclosing an area of about an acre, and surrounded by a strong stone wall, generally from about 20 to 25 feet high, having a round tower, with battlements, about 35 feet high, at the south-east, north-east, and north-west angles, and a square one, used for a chapel, at the south-west. The entrance a great gateway, under a large square building, jutting out a few yards from the centre of the east wall in front, and a square tower, somewhat corresponding to it, jutting out in like manner from the centre of the wall towards the west.The situation seems to have been well chosen for the command of the little hill between the rivers on which the town is built, and for the best natural means of defence.[…] This castle is said to have been originally built by Richard de Ripariis, Redvers, or Rivers, Earl of Devon, and first Baron of Tiverton; begun soon after his having received the grant of the barony from King Henry I. and completed about the year 1106. The hand of time alone, in a long course of ages, would undoubtedly have worked many alterations in the building, had not the rude manners and boisterous times of the 12th and 13th centuries, when the art of savage war and law of arms formed the ruling principle, subjected it to that violence and those ravages which marked the baronial contests, and occasioned frequent transitions from temporary ruin to renewed strength.[…] The active part several successive lords of Tiverton took in the long war between the houses of Lancaster and York, again exposed this their general place of abode to repeated assaults. On the return of more peaceable times, when the two roses were united, and William Courtenay, Earl of Devon, had married the daughter of Edward IV. sister of the Queen of Henry VII. this castle arose to its highest state of strength and splendour. Here was held the court; and this was the constant place of residence of the widowed Princess fifteen years. The Marquis of Exon, her son and successor, lived here occasionally with great magnificence: from hence he was taken to the Tower of London, and from thence to the scaffold, to gratify the cruel caprice and unreasonable jealousy of the tyrant Henry VIII. From this time the castle gradually sunk to decay; and the parks and pleasure grounds belonging to it were sold, or otherwise disposed of, by the crown, to divers persons; and though it became the property of many successive owners of high rank and estimation, was seldom or never used for their residence.[…] About the year 1700, Peter West, Esq. built a new house within the area of the antient [sic] walls, in which he lived, with his family, many years; the front of it towards the south with brick, the back and sides with stones; probably from the ruins of the north wall, no vestiges of which, nor of the round tower at the north-east angle, are now to be seen. The square building in front, about fifty feet high, the noble Gothic arch at the entrance, and those in the passage, are almost entire; great part of the west wall on the declivity, the round tower at the north-west angle, the square one in the centre, and the chapel at the south-west corner, still remain; also the chief part of the south wall, and round tower at the south-east angle, and now exhibit very respectable ruins. The moat against the south wall, towards the church-yard, is converted into a good kitchen garden; that on the north is quite filled up, and made a part of a large court-yard. Without this are now two other court-yards, very extensive and convenient. On the north side of the yard next the castle is a barn, built of stone, large enough to contain great part of the annual produce of the barton, having a curious and strong roof that will probably endure for ages; besides which no vestiges are remaining of any other detached buildings.[Text may be taken from a different edition than that listed as the source by Somers Cocks.]

Copper l.engr

140x222mm

S016. DUNSFORD, Martin: HISTORICAL MEMOIRS OF THE TOWN AND PARISH OF TIVERTON.