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The Great Britain Guide

Castles · South West England

Kingswear Castle

In or near Kingswear.

Tudor & StuartFree admission♿ Wheelchair: limited4.0 · 65 Google reviews

Kingswear Castle — Grade I listed castle in South Hams, United Kingdom.

Kingswear Castle, castles in Devon

Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
1.5 h–3 h
Nearest railway station
Kingswear · 1.2 km
  • Free entry
  • Family-friendly
  • Limited wheelchair access

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Kingswear Castle, the nearest railway station is Kingswear, located 1.2 km away. The postcode for sat-nav is TQ6 0DX. Accessibility is limited for wheelchair users.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Kingswear Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Records date its origin to 1491. Heritage designation: Grade I listed building. Owned by Landmark Trust. Wikidata describes it as: "Grade I listed castle in South Hams, United Kingdom". Coordinates: 50.3421°, -3.5598°.

Photo gallery

Heritage listing

Kingswear Castle is an artillery fort, built to protect Dartmouth harbour in Devon, England. It was constructed between 1491 and 1502 in response to the threat of French attack and was one of the first purpose-built artillery forts in Britain. By the end of the 16th century, however, improvements in the range of artillery weapons had reduced the utility of the castle. It took part in the English Civil War and continued to be armed until the early 18th century, but fell into ruin.

From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.

Summary from the official site

Kingswear Castle is a historic structure located near Dartmouth, Devon, designed to defend the harbour since its construction in 1481. Visitors can enjoy stunning views of Dartmouth and the surrounding coastline from the castle's roof platform and windows.

Read more on the official property page.

Protected designations

  • Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: South Devon

Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.

From the Wikipedia article

Kingswear Castle is an artillery fort, built to protect Dartmouth harbour in Devon, England. It was constructed between 1491 and 1502 in response to the threat of French attack and was one of the first purpose-built artillery forts in Britain. By the end of the 16th century, however, improvements in the range of artillery weapons had reduced the utility of the castle. It took part in the English Civil War and continued to be armed until the early 18th century, but fell into ruin. Restored as a summer house in 1855, in the 21st century it is managed by the Landmark Trust as a holiday let.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Coordinates
50.3421, -3.5598
County
Devon
District
South Hams
Parish
Kingswear
Postcode
TQ6 0DX
Parliamentary constituency
South Devon
Phone
01628 825925
Established
1491
Nearest railway station
Kingswear1.2 km

Sources

Other places nearby

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Where to eat & stay near Kingswear Castle

Places to stay

Seale Arms on Victoria Road, Dartmouth - geograph.org.uk - 4376110📷 5

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Leonards Cove Holiday Park

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Norton Park Holiday Chalets

Norton Park Holiday Chalets — a caravan park in england south west.

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Galmpton Touring Park

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Places to eat & drink

Wall, Castle Road, Dartmouth - geograph.org.uk - 4156972📷 7

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Sunderland Terrace, Dartmouth - geograph.org.uk - 6925195📷 7

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bayardscoveinn.co.uk
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Old fashioned newsagent - geograph.org.uk - 6058225📷 7

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Dartmouth - The Royal Castle Hotel - geograph.org.uk - 7590596📷 5

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Kingswear Castle?
Kingswear Castle is in Devon, South-West England, United Kingdom (postcode TQ6 0DX), in the parish of Kingswear.
What is Kingswear Castle?
Kingswear Castle — Grade I listed castle in South Hams, United Kingdom.
How do I get to Kingswear Castle?
The nearest railway station is Kingswear, about 1.2 km away. Drivers can use postcode TQ6 0DX.
When was Kingswear Castle built?
Built or established in 1491.
Who owns Kingswear Castle?
Kingswear Castle is owned by Landmark Trust.
Is Kingswear Castle a listed building?
Kingswear Castle is officially recognised as Grade I listed building listed.
Is Kingswear Castle a protected site?
Yes — Kingswear Castle is part of the South Devon National Landscape (AONB).
Does Kingswear Castle charge admission?
Kingswear Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.