The Castle Bailey

The Castle Bailey. Totnes Castle. Like many Norman castles, Totnes contained an enclosed yard or bailey, at the foot of the castle mound. On a normal day, this would be the scene of bustling activity., More spacious than the platform at the top of the mound the bailey contained the principal buildings of Totnes Castle. These ranged from humble structures including stables for the horses, a blacksmith's forge, kitchens, bakehouses and brewhouses, to larger and more elaborate buildings such as the hall, chamber and chapel, in which the lord of Totnes stayed during his visits, and in which his officials governed the town and his estates., Sadly no evidence now survives for these buildings, most of which were built in timber. Only fragments survive of the enclosing stone wall, on the edge of a deep ditch. A document of 1273 shows that, by this date, the castle's buildings were falling into ruin -- successive owners refused to pay for repairs to a castle in which they no longer wished to live.