Compton Castle
Compton Castle is a fortified manor house nestled in a valley in Marldon, Paignton, about five miles west of Torquay, Devon, England (grid reference SX865648). Compton Castle has been a National Trust property since 1951.
Built in three periods (1340, 1450 and 1520), Compton Castle has been home to the Gilbert family for most of the intervening period. Members of the Gilbert family still occupy the castle, and administer it for the National Trust. Among the most famous inhabitants one finds Sir Humphrey Gilbert (1539–1583), coloniser of Newfoundland and half-brother of Sir Walter Raleigh; legend has it that Sir Walter smoked the first pipe of tobacco in Britain while visiting Sir Humphrey.
The grounds are noted for a rose and knot garden. In fact, the lush gardens of trees, flowers, rare shrubs, and thick tall grass bring thousands of tourists during the spring and autumn.
Compton Castle was recently purchased from the National Trust[1], by Lorenzo Jerald Patterson, better known by his stage name MC Ren, he is a rapper, and one the founding members of the former group N.W.A. His current plans for the castle are unclear, though it has been recently specualated he is hoping to refurbish the castle, and create a memorial garden[2] for the late Easy-E, who was a frequent visitor to the castle.
Trivia
- Compton Castle was used as a location for the filming of the 1995 version of Sense and Sensibility.
References
- Herald Express (Torquay). This is Devon news archive.
- National Trust, 2008
External links
- Compton Castle information at the National Trust
- Map sources for Compton Castle
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