Hermitage Castle And Attached Retaining Wall Adjoining To South

DARTMOUTH

SX85SE OLD MILL CREEK 673-1/2/1 Hermitage Castle and attached 08/11/88 retaining wall adjoining to south

II

Folly tower, possibly a rebuild of an earlier building of uncertain purpose. 1790 or 1890, according to fragmentary inscription, but lowest level probably earlier. Mainly local limestone rubble although lowest level of coursed stone with ashlar lining internally; no floors, roof or chimneyshafts remaining. PLAN: Circular tower approximately 4.5 metres in diameter and 13 metres high with stone stair tower on south-east side giving an overall ovoid plan. EXTERIOR: 4 storeys when floored, with middle 2 floors heated. Northern doorway has segmental head, an external splay with rusty iron spigots. Directly above large window embrasures, also with segmental heads, to the main rooms. To left are smaller windows with pointed-arch heads and remains of simple hoodmoulds. Lower one is blind (backing onto the fireplace) and surviving right label stop inscribed "90", presumably from a date. At the top level, on the south-west side, the remains of a doorway onto an artificial terrace on top of the cliff - a Tudor arch, but large hole of collapsed masonry on left side. Stair on south-east side has tiny windows. Top of the walls have collapsed. INTERIOR: Recessed alcove with roughly parabolic-arch head and very low segmental arch to the stone stairs. First-floor level has 4 segment-headed arches, one to stairs and others to alcoves, and remains of a fireplace. Second floor similar with one alcove and fireplace under a brick segmental arch. Stone newel stair runs clear from top to bottom, and remains show it rising to the roof or wall walk.

Listing NGR: SX8657752155