Leland’s Journey through Wiltshire. 181 
This castle was made in Henry the first dayes by one Roger! 
Byshope of Salisbyrye, Chauncelar and Treasurer to the Kynge. 
Such a pece of castle worke so costly and strongly was never afore 
nor sence set up by any Byshope of England. The kepe or dungeon 
of it set upon an hille cast by hand, is a peace of worke of an 
incredible coste. There appere in the gate? of it, 6 or 7 places for 
porte colacis, and muche goodly buyldying was in it. It is nowin 
ruine, and parte of the front of the towres of the gate of the kepe 
and the chapell in it were caried, full unprofitably, onto the 
buyldynge of Master Buinton’s place at Bromeham scant 3 
myles of.3 
There remayne dyvers goodly towres yet in the utter walle of 
the castle, but all goynge to ruine. 
The principall gate that ledithe in to the toune is yet of a great 
strengthe, and hathe places for 7 or 8 porte colices. 
Ther is a fayre parke by the castle. 
The forest of Blake-more lyethe in a botom toward northe west, 
not far from the toune. 
1 Roger, Bishop of Salisbury, one of the most powerful opponents, in the West 
of England, of the claim of Stephen to the Crown. He built, wholly or in part, 
castles at Sherbourn (Dorset), Malmsbury, Devizes, and Sarum. 
2 Gate.” Mr. Waylen, in his description of Devizes Castle, is of opinion 
that by the “ gate,” leading into the town, and having places for several port- 
cullises, is meant not merely the portal, but a long protected passage leading from 
the castle keep to the main entrance of what is now the Bear Inn yard. (See 
Hist. of Dev. p. 121, and plan at p. 129). 
3 Andrew Baynton had already carried off part of an old manor-house at 
Corsham. (See above p. 143): and, according to Aubrey, he also appropriated to 
the same object part of Bradenstoke Priory. Bromham House stood on or near 
the site of the present Bromham farm-house: between Rowdeford and Wans- 
house (on the right hand going from Devizes to Chippenham); and near the Old 
London Road to Bath. It was a garrison for the Royalists in the civil wars, and 
was burned down in 1645. Sir Edward Baynton, the owner at that time, would 
not rebuild it, but chose a new site at Spye Park. Some of the materials having 
escaped the conflagration were again turned to account, and there is still a tra- 
dition that one of the lodges of Spye Park came from Devizes Castle. 
