Devon County Council - Historic Environment Overlooking the Taw Valley, at the northern end of Heywood Wood, stand the remains of an early medieval motte and bailey castle. Motte and bailey castles are medieval fortifications introduced into Britain by the Normans. This type of castle was made up of an artificial mound, or motte, on which was built a wooden or stone structure known as a keep. Next to this at least one bailey, a fortified embanked enclosure containing additional buildings, would be built. Although many were occupied for only a short period of time, motte and bailey castles continued to be built and occupied from the 11th to the 13th centuries, after which they were superseded by other types of castle.
https://www.devon.gov.uk/historicenvironment/explore-devons-heritage/heywood-castle-eggesford/
Image from DCC website: https://www.devon.gov.uk/historicenvironment/explore-devons-heritage/heywood-castle-eggesford/
Historic England Heywood Castle survives well, contains important archaeological information relating to Norman military activity in this part of Devon and is a popular destination for educational groups and visitors to the area. This is one of two castles from the same period to survive in the area.
This monument includes a motte and bailey castle known as Heywood Castle which is situated in a commanding location overlooking the valley of the River Taw. The monument survives as a circular motte, rock-cut ditch and crescent shaped bailey with an outer bank. The motte has a diameter of 48.7m and is 7.9m high. On top of the motte is a ring bank which attains a height of up to 4m in places and is up to 2m wide.
https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1020959
Heritage Gateway A well preserved motte and bailey overlooking the Taw valley.
https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MDV1019&resourceID=104
