Origins and Early History
Berry Pomeroy Castle is situated near the village of Berry Pomeroy in South Devon. Its origins trace back to the late 15th century, although the site itself has a much longer history of occupation. Before the castle’s construction, the land was home to an earlier medieval manor and possibly an earlier fortification dating to the Norman period.
The castle was built by the Pomeroy family, a Norman noble lineage granted lands in Devon after the Norman Conquest of 1066. The Pomeroys established themselves as influential landowners in the region. The name “Berry” derives from the Old English word "burh," meaning a fortified place, combined with the Pomeroy family name.
Berry Pomeroy Castle as it stands today was primarily constructed between 1460 and 1500 during the late medieval period, a time when England was transitioning from feudal warfare to more peaceful, domestic uses for such fortifications. shutdown123