Penstowe Castle

Penstowe Castle, also called Kilkhampton Castle, was a medieval fortification built near Kilkhampton, Cornwall, England, possibly during the years of the civil war in the 12th century known as the Anarchy.

History
The date of Penstowe Castle's construction is uncertain, but it was built between the Norman Conquest of England in 1066 and the end of the 12th century, near to the village of Kilkhampton in Cornwall. One possibility is that was built by either Robert of Gloucester or the Granville family during the years of the Anarchy in the mid-12th century.

It was built to a motte and bailey design, positioned on a knoll and protected by steep slopes on the north and south sides. The motte today is shaped as an oval, 18 m by 8 m across and between 6 m and 9 m high; the inner bailey is 30 m by 25 m, and the outer bailey is 24 m by 20 m. The configuration of baileys is unusual, although similar to nearby Eastleigh Berries Castle. A D-shaped building was located on top of the motte.

Archaeological excavations were carried out in 1925 and in the early 1950s. In the 21st century the site is protected under law as a scheduled monument.