Castles and Forts in Devon

Historic Castles & Forts

Devon's defensive landscape spans nearly a millennium of military architecture, from the Norman motte and bailey of Totnes Castle to the early 20th-century revivalist design of Castle Drogo. This collection features 16th-century coastal artillery defenses including Dartmouth Castle, Kingswear Castle, and the Bayards Cove blockhouse, which were built to protect the Dart Estuary. Also included is Compton Castle, a rare example of a fortified medieval manor house. Together, these sites illustrate the evolution of British fortifications from medieval strongholds to modern coastal batteries.