Bickleigh Castle, Bickleigh, Tiverton, Devon
Although Bickleigh Castle is a popular Devon wedding venue, it’s also open for guided tours of the castle and gardens from early April to late October each year, so if you have a thing for historic houses, you might well like this for when you're on your holidays in the South West..
Bickleigh Castle stands in its own grounds on the banks of the River Exe, not far from the Devon and Somerset border, and just a short drive from Tiverton. And so it has stood since Norman times, when it was built on the site of a fortified Saxon village – what’s fascinating is that it remained in the ownership of just 3 families from then until 1924.
And goodness, this place has seen some things – wars and slightings, royal visitors - if walls could talk! The castle suffered a fair amount of damage in The Anarchy of the 1140s, one of the owners was married to the granddaughter of King Edward 1st and Eleanor of Castile, Lady Margaret Beaufort (King Henry VII’s great-aunt) lived here in the 1400s, and in the early 1600s Princess Katherine Plantagenet, who was the daughter of King Edward IV was a regular visitor! During the English Civil War, Queen Henrietta Maria, wife of King Charles I stayed at Bickleigh; around this time she was exiled to France and some of her baggage train was either left behind or found its way back to Bickleigh castle – including the suit of armour made for and worn by her husband. Impressed? You should be.
The artefacts in the castle’s collection are interesting; in the armoury there are cavalry swords, chain mail and cannon balls, and some fine 17th century portraits that include royalty. Even more interesting is that next to the armoury there’s a secret, sealed room – surely the castle’s biggest mystery. What’s in it? Why was it sealed? Maybe one day all will be revealed.
Castle and Garden Tours are guided or self-guided and can be rounded off with afternoon tea in the Orangery. Booking is essential.
T: 01884 855363
All information correct at the time of writing
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