Mediæval Military Architecture in England, Volume 1 (of 2)Clark, George Thomas
History
Mediæval Military Architecture in England, Volume 1 (of 2)
Clark, George Thomas
Architecture -- England; Architecture, Medieval; Military architecture
Next to Gloucester in strength and importance and far more exposed
came Hereford, strongly posted on the Wye, and surrounded by a very
fertile territory. Unlike most other cities Hereford is of purely
English foundation, though by whom founded is not precisely clear. It
was fortified by Harold, and probably received the Norman additions
to its castle from Osborne soon after the Conquest. The castle was
attacked by Edric the Wild in 1067. Part of the defences of the city
remain, and of those of the castle an immense bank and deep wet ditch,
now in part being filled up, and formerly communicating with the river
Wye. The keep stood upon a large mound now levelled. Herefordshire
contained many castles, mostly, however, intended for the protection
of private estates, and placed accordingly. Goderich on the Wye is one
of the chief. It is large, well built, protected by the river, and has
a small but early rectangular keep. It was long held by the Talbots.
Ewias Harold and Kilpeck commanded from either side the valley of
Irchenfield. Both were strong and had shell keeps built upon mounds of
large size. Of Kilpeck parts of the wall remain, and a small Norman
church. In 1134 Hugh, son of William Norman, gave to Gloucester Abbey
the church of St. David at Kilpeck and the chapel of St. Mary in the
castle. Ewias was a stronger place, but nearly all the masonry is now
gone. The Harold from whom it derives its distinctive name was an
English proprietor before the Conquest. Of the lesser castles were
Croft, for centuries the seat of a still extant family of that name;
Lingen, an early castle built by Turstine de Wigmore; Lyonshall, an
early D’Evereux castle; Kingston, of which no trace remains; Almley,
reduced to its original mound; Kingsland, reputed a Saxon seat;
Weobley, a De Lacy castle in the reign of Stephen; Castle Frome, also
built by the Lacys, and now a mound only. Asperton, a Grandison castle
built on the edge of the Roman way, is now destroyed, as are Ellington
and Mortimer’s Castle at Much Marcle. Of Huntingdon, on the Radnor
border, a De Braose castle, the mound remains, as of Eardisley, called
in “Domesday” a “domus defensabilis.” Cubbington was a castle of the De
la Fields, and Bredwardine of a family of that name who gave place to
the Baskervilles. Whitney Castle stood on the Wye, as a little higher
up did Clifford, of which the masonry was the work of Ralph de Todeni
and his successor Fitz Pons, ancestor of the great house of Clifford,
who hence derived their name. The Castelry of Clifford was held at
“Domesday” by Roger de Lacy. Wilton Castle on the Wye, the seat of a
well-known barony, was built by Longchamp in the reign of Henry I.,
and of that age were Pembridge and probably Tretire, a Fitz Warine
castle now destroyed. Besides these there are others of which less
is known; Longtown or Ewias Lacy, built in part of Roman material;
Snodhill, probably Norman; Twyford, and Urishay in Peterchurch, a De
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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