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Berry Pomeroy Castle

(vero;2022-July-11)

Next to Totnes, Berry Pomeroy Castle is the very photogenic and evocative ruin of a late 15th century Tudor mansion built by the famous Seymour family on the grounds of an estate formerly owned by the Pomeroy family. This family had come from Normandy with William the Conqueror who granted them the land (Pomeroy being a deviation from their original name "De la Pommeraie" meaning "from the apple orchard"). They lived on their estate in a manor house in the village of Berry Pomeroy and worried about the deterioration of politics and increasing unrest in the country (the Pomeroys were "Yorkists" in the War of Roses), they started building a defensive castle in the adjacent deer park in the mid to late 15th century .

In 1547, Berry Pomeroy was bought from the impoverished Sir Thomas Pomeroy by the wealthy and powerful Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset (c 1500—1552). Seymour was the brother of Henry VIII’s third and favourite queen, Jane Seymour, and in 1547 became ‘Lord Protector’ of his nine-year-old nephew, King Edward VI, and thus effectively ruler of England. The Seymours transformed the Pomeroy castle into a magnificent Tudor mansion which was eventually abandoned as Edward, 4th baronet became member of parliament for Exeter and from 1673 Speaker of the House of Commons. Because of Berry Pomeroy's distance from London, he decided to move lock, stock and barrel to his Bradley House in Wiltshire which was much nearer to the capital. It is likely that he stripped the castle of materials to fund the rebuilding of Bradley House which he completed in 1710, letting Berry Pomeroy fall into ruins.

The castle is entered by the gatehouse, the oldest part of the castle built in the late 15th century by Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset. On the first floor is a chamber with an oratory which was probably used as a chapel.

The late 15th-century gatehouse and adjoining rampart. The ruins on the right are the Elizabethan mansion built ca 1560-1570 by Sir Edward Seymour (second generation, son of the Duke of Somerset).

The entrance front of the Elizabethan mansion begun about 1560 by Sir Edward Seymour (second generation, son of the Duke of Somerset). The design was very modern with huge windows, some being from floor to ceiling, letting much light into the chambers and rooms.

Inside the Elizabethan mansion built ca 1560-1570.

On top of the gatehouse (late 15th century) is a chamber which was probably a chapel with a medieval wall painting depicting the visit of the Three Magi to Bethlehem. This painting is dated to about 1490—1500 and in quite a bad shape but a bit of photo editing gives an idea of how it looked.

Another view of the Elizabethan mansion built ca 1560-1570 with its great and impressive windows.

The Elizabethan mansion built ca 1560-1570 seen from the East terrace which was added by Sir Edward Seymour, MP, 1st Baronet of Berry Pomeroy around 1600 (third generation). On the right are the remains of St Margaret's tower which was part of the original late 15th century ramparts.

Inside the Elizabethan mansion built ca 1560-1570: windows, doors and chimney flues.

The Elizabethan mansion seen from the kitchen and bakery wing of the west extension built by Sir Edward Seymour, MP, 1st Baronet around 1600 (third generation). This extension was never completely finished but featured a new wing with columned loggia and a new great hall connecting at an angle with the Elizabethan mansion (not visible on the picture but would be on the left).

View across the remains of the loggia and great hall of the west extension towards the front of the Elizabethan mansion. The west extension was never completed and has been dismantled to provide building materials for the new house of the Seymour family in Wiltshire in the early 1700s.

View of the late 15th century gatehouse from the inside of the castle. The structure with a roof on top is the chapel.

The walls on the right are from the Elizabethan mansion built ca 1560-1570. The rest of wall with the great opening door on the left of it is part of the now disappeared west wing extension. Connection between both wings was done via a great staircase which would have been right of the big opening behind the walls of the Elizabethan structure.

Do not miss a visit to the parish church of Berry Pomeroy down in the village. It contains a funeral monument to the Seymour family. On top lies Sir Edward Seymour (d.1593), son of Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset (who was the brother of Queen Jane Seymour and uncle to the king Edward VI and bought the Berry Pomeroy estate). Below him is his son Sir Edward Seymour, MP, 1st Baronet of Berry Pomeroy (d.1613) and his wife at the lowest level, Elizabeth Champernowne.

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