The Pomeroys Berry Pomeroy Castle

the wall painting (considerably enhanced bring out faint detail).

the de la pomeroy family held large feudal barony of berry pomeroy shortly after norman conquest of england, domesday book of 1086 records. documents refer capital messuage @ berry, signifying caput of manor, manor in turn caput of barony, consisted in 1166 of 32 knight s fees, each equating approximately single manor. although henry pomeroy enclosed deer park here in 1207, first reference castle not appear until 1496, when elizabeth, widow of richard pomeroy, assigned third of both castle , capital messuage. document makes clear these on different sites; messuage thought have been on or near site of berry house in nearby village.

archaeological evidence, , particularly design of gun ports in gatehouse , st. margaret s tower, curtain wall oldest parts of castle, indicate castle built in late 15th century. have been 1 of last traditional personal castles built in country, located on favoured site within pomeroy s deer park.

under pomeroys castle consisted of dry moat (now infilled), gatehouse , ramparts surmounted curtain wall buildings disposed around wall on inside. due extensive remodelling took place later, few archaeological remains survive show exact placement of these original buildings. in 1978, wall painting discovered in upper storey of gatehouse, hidden behind thick layer of vegetation. representation of adoration of magi , has been dated c.1490–1500 based on stylistic similarity european works of period.