Compton Castle

Over het museum

Compton Castle began in the mid-fourteenth century as an undefended manor house with a hall between a solar and service rooms. The Gilbert family took over the house and lived there for nearly six hundred years. In the early sixteenth century John Gilbert added the fortress-like front with towers, loopholes and a portcullis, which gives the house its castle look.

The most famous member of the family was Sir Humphrey Gilbert, who lived at Compton in the sixteenth century. He was the half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh and the coloniser of Newfoundland for Elizabeth I. The family sold the estate in 1785, after which the buildings slowly decayed and the central hall fell into ruin.

In 1931 a descendant of the Gilberts bought the castle back and began to restore it, including rebuilding the great hall. He gave the property to the National Trust in 1951 on condition that members of the family could continue to live there. Visitors today see the great hall, the solar reached by a medieval staircase, the chapel and the medieval kitchen, which stands apart from the main building because of the risk of fire, as well as a medieval-style garden and orchard.

Hoogtepunten

• Fortified front with towers, loopholes and portcullises
• Restored great hall with a model of Sir Humphrey Gilbert's ship Squirrel
• Solar, chapel and detached medieval kitchen
• Medieval-style knot garden, rose garden and orchard
• Home of the Gilbert family for almost six centuries

Vaste collectie

• The castle and its gardens – The great hall, solar, chapel and medieval kitchen of the fortified manor house, with a medieval-style knot garden, rose garden and orchard.

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Prices are for the whole property, without Gift Aid (adult £13.20 with Gift Aid). National Trust members enter free.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

The ground floor of the castle is accessible, but the paths are uneven and there are steps. The grounds are only partly accessible, with steep slopes, steps and narrow paths. There is a drop-off point in front of the main gates, an accessible toilet and a designated parking space, and a manual wheelchair can be borrowed. Seating is available. Assistance dogs are welcome in the castle, and mobile phone reception is poor.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Doe- en voelstations

Families can follow a nature trail, play garden games and try on costumes at the castle.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The castle lies 1½ miles north of Marldon, signposted from the A380 to Marldon, or south from the A381 Totnes road at Ipplepen along 2 miles of country lanes with passing places. Older satellite navigation systems may not recognise the new South Devon Link Road.

Service & horeca

Castle Barton tea room is opposite the castle. Dogs on short leads are welcome in the garden and orchard, and only assistance dogs are allowed in the castle.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.