Lydford Castle

Lydford Castle is a medieval stone prison tower on an earth mound in Lydford, on Dartmoor’s western edge. It held people accused under Dartmoor Forest and Devon’s tin-mining laws, which gives this small ruin a sharp story. Entry is free during daylight; it makes a short stop for anyone interested in medieval justice, especially alongside the village’s other historic remains.

The standing tower was rebuilt in the late 13th century over a 12th-century predecessor. It was about 15 metres square, with walls more than 3 metres thick; earth piled against the outside gave its mound-like profile. Rows of joist holes mark the lost floor levels; the lower walls are thicker than the upper ones, and corbels near the top show where roof timbers rested. The roof and floors are gone. In 1510, tinner and MP Richard Strode was jailed here after protesting mining debris silting Plymouth harbour. The tower’s reputation for rough justice stuck, though how fair it was remains uncertain.

The wider historic site also includes the separate Norman Fort and Saxon Town Banks elsewhere in the village; these aren’t one enclosed complex. Dartmoor National Park’s car park is opposite The Castle Inn; public toilets are seasonal from May to October. Parking charges may apply. The site is open during daylight, but interior access isn’t specified; check before planning to go inside.