Guidebook: Totnes Castle
Totnes Castle was built in the early years of the Norman Conquest to dominate the Saxon town of Totnes and the crossing over the River Dart. It was almost certainly constructed by Juhel, one of William the Conqueror's commanders in the south-west, and is a fine example of a 'motte-and-bailey' castle, with impressive earthworks. The original Norman timber defences were replaced by the present stone keep in the early 14th century.