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RICHMONTE CASTLE
Harptree's medieval Importance can be inferred from its having the only medieval castle in the area that's now the south of Avon (the nearest were Bristol to the north, Englishcombe to the East, and Locking to the West). The castle, on the Eastern edge of Harptree Coombe, was called Richmont Castle, and it was demolished in the 16th century, possibly to recycle stone to build a manor house on the site of the present Eastwood Manor Farm (see below). Little remains of the castle, and there has never been an archaeological excavation Of the site, but documentary records describe its capture by King Stephen in 1138, in the civil war with Maud. The site of the castle is about 1/4 mile S.W. of the church in the Coombe. According to Rutter 1829, The castle was garrisoned by sir William de Harptree in aid of the Empress Maud, against King Stephen, who, after the reduction of Bristol, prepared to lay siege to it; but the garrison, making an impudent sally, to attack the rear of his army, he cut off their retreat by means of his cavalry, set fire to the gates and placing scaling ladders against the walls, made himself master of the place. this ancient castle was not entirely demolished until some centuries afterwards, when Sir John Newton erected another mansion at Eastwood, in the reign of Henry VIII. The only parts left of the castle are the foundations of a large circular building, probably the keep or donjon.
HARPTREE COURT
Harptree Court was probably built around 1745, although the earliest deed dates from 1811. It was bought by Earl Waldegrave in 1804, who sold it to the Gurneys in 1860. The butler, a Frank Taylor, married one of the Miss Gurneys, and lived there until 1873, when he sold it to W.W.Kettlewell. In 1920, his son, Col. H.W.Kettlewell sold it to Charles L.Hill.
Harptree Court
HARPTREE HOUSE
Mrs W.W. Kettlewell retired to this house when her husband died. It once belonged to a Mr Hooper, one of whose sons was Dr William Hooper, the father of the Church Missionary Society. There is a tablet in the church to his memory.
Harptree House
EASTWOOD MANOR
This was built by Charles Kemble in 1874 of banker stone; it has been owned since then by Mardons, Lamberts, Wardell-Yerburghs, Robinsons, and was used as a nursing home until 1994, but there is now talk of conversion to flats and building of new houses in the grounds.
Eastwood Manor from the west Front (South) view of Eastwood Manor
SUMMERLEAZE
This was a secondary private school for boys for 40 years, but was closed just before the first world war. It is now a private house.
Summerleaze - little evidence of its previous history
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