Bottreaux Castle

About

Bottreaux Castle (pronounced "Botro"), colloquially known as The Courte during the time John Leyland visited, and later known as Boscastle Castle, is a ruined motte and bailey castle in Boscastle, England. It was originally built in the 12th century and only earthworks remain today.

Bottreaux Castle was likely built sometime between 1154 and 1189 (during the reign of Henry II) by Sir William des Bottreaux, and it was anciently in the possession of the de Botreaux family, which became under William de Botreaux (1337–91) the Barons Botreaux; the castle does not actually appear in records until the 13th century. The last member of the Bottreaux family died in 1462, and the castle soon fell into decay. In 1478, William Worcester mentioned Bottreaux Castle only as a manor house, John Leyland visited the castle in 1538, but the castle was likely demolished before he visited; he commented on the ruins, calling them "far unworthie the name of a castel; the people there, call it the Courte." In c. 1600, Richard Carew noted that it was once used as a unisex prison. He wrote: "The first place which heere offreth itselfe to sight, is Bottreaux Castle, seated on a bad harbour of...