castle castle ruined medieval fortification town english county standing overlooking castle probably founded norman conquest stone castles built england civil war 12th century castle changed hands times rival fortified great tower large outer bailey century passed rebuilt inner bailey castle played acquired castle extending internal complex buildings family went hold century richard duke york inherited castle important symbol authority wars roses richard son seized throne passed ownership crown chosen seat council marches wales effectively acting capital wales extensively renovated 16th century 17th century castle appointed hosting cultural events performance held english civil war besieged taken army contents castle sold garrison retained restoration council castle repaired recovered civil war years council finally abolished fell neglect earl leased property crown extensively landscaping ruins brother law bought castle outright mansion constructed outer bailey remainder castle left largely untouched attracting increasing number visitors popular location artists cleared vegetation course century extensively repaired government bodies 21st century owned operated tourist attraction architecture reflects long history retaining blend styles building castle approximately feet size covering acres outer bailey includes building estate offices accommodation inner bailey separated trench cut stone houses great tower solar block great hall block later 16th century additions rare circular chapel modelled shrine english_heritage notes ruins represent remarkably complete multi phase complex considers england finest castle sites history 11th century probably founded walter arrived england household norman conquest england earl tasked settling area time castles founded west county securing border wales earl second command rewarded spread seven counties walter began building castle manor fortification originally called acquired later important walter castles heart new estates site lay strategic crossroads strong defensive walter died construction accident succeeded son castle norman stone fortifications added possibly early onwards finished based inner bailey castle forming stone version towers gatehouse tower walls ditch dug rock sides excavated stone reused building works masonry castles england circular design grand entrance tower likened earlier anglo saxon designs roger stripped lands reassigned roger brother hugh 12th century died childless henry gave surrounding estates hugh niece marrying pain household staff pain main castle estates surrounding estates knight fees support castle defences pain died fighting welsh triggering struggle inheritance castle planning marry pain daughter laid claim son king stephen seized english throne position insecure gave exchange promises future political support civil war stephen soon broke gilbert took chance rise stephen seizing stephen responded taking army attempted garner local support marrying knights granting future ownership castle stephen took castle attempts famously rescuing ally scotland caught hook thrown walls garrison gilbert maintained rightful owner private war ensued gilbert ultimately successful retook castle years end civil war ultimately left levant leaving hands firstly eldest son robert robert death younger son period great tower form constructed converting entrance tower probably time siege war gilbert old norman castle begun small growing household probably outer bailey built south east original castle creating large open space process entrance castle shifted south east face growing town gilbert probably built circular chapel inner bailey resembling churches order later joined hugh took norman invasion ireland lord spent time away henry_ii confiscated castle absence probably ensure hugh stayed loyal ireland hugh died ireland castle passed son walter minor charge property prince john rebellion richard walter joined attacks prince richard approve confiscated walter properties offered buy land marks offer rejected vast sum marks finally agreed 13th century travelled ireland following year properties including confiscated ensure loyalty placed control father law walter lands returned subject payment fine marks disagreements royal officials ireland led king john seizing castle putting control william walter reconciled john following year william fallen king violence broke walter william took refuge ireland john taking control relationship recovered john agreed walter point early 13th century bailey constructed castle creating additional private space inner bailey king met welsh prince peace talks negotiations unsuccessful year henry suspicious walter activities ireland measures secure loyalty taken crown period years cut short walter carried campaign henry enemies ireland paid king marks return castles lands walter accumulated thousand pounds debt henry private unable repay result gave king fortification returned death walter margaret inherit walter remaining estates death unmarried making hard hold property right henry informally divided lands giving marrying royal favourites debts inherited walter time peter died married second time time friend prince edward future king henry officially split walter estate allowing retain castle henry lost control power resulting second barons war england following royalist defeat rebel leader seized recaptured shortly henry supporters probably led escaped captivity met supporters castle commencing campaign retake throne culminating defeat later year continued occupy castle rest century edward rule death built great hall solar block tenure castle later town walls began constructed 13th century probably onwards linked castle form continuous ring defences town 14th century oldest granddaughter joan married giving control roger built block alongside existing great hall solar complex copying popular design domestic castle buildings 14th century additional building constructed roger location later tudor tower added curtain wall found losing war imprisoned escaped tower london exile france formed alliance edward estranged wife seized power england earl march extremely wealthy possibly entertaining castle earl built new chapel named saint day escaped tower work probably intended produce historian termed castle overtones echoing archaic norman styles building fell power following year widow joan permitted retain gradually family important property rest century owners young control castle personally castle briefly inherited son young grandson roger eventually prominent soldier years war roger young son inherited castle grew involved war france roger legal device called use effectively giving trustees exchange annual payments reduced tax gave control distribution estates deaths son roger inherited castle king took opportunity roger minority exploit estates control committee major nobles roger died richard took castle behalf young heir deposed power 15th century castle king revolt broke wales military captains appointed castle protect rebel threat instance henry half brother sir younger brother set castle army rebels captured battle henry refused ransom eventually married daughters dying siege henry placed young heir house arrest south england kept firm grip persisted finally granted estates going serve crown overseas result rarely visited castle century despite surrounding town having prosperous wool cloth trades fell heavily debt having sold rights welsh estates consortium nobles dying childless castle inherited sister young son took possession richard took keen interest castle formed administrative base estates region possibly living late definitely residing richard established sons including future household castle possibly responsible rebuilding northern great tower period wars roses broke richard faction find line conflict instead acting safe retreat away main fighting exception took place outside town resulting largely victory battle bid break richard power region placed charge castle constable earl given wider richard killed battle son edward seized throne following year control merging property crown new visited castle regularly established council govern estates wales probably conducted modest work property responsible great tower possibly influenced childhood experiences edward sent eldest son future brother live castle seat newly created council marches wales primarily residential military rich valuable symbol authority claim throne edward died took throne continued use regional base granting son dormant council marches property 16th century arrived honeymoon bride catherine dying following year continued operate guidance president council evolved combination governmental body court law settling range disputes wales charged maintaining general order effectively capital wales daughter catherine henry_viii spent months overseeing entourage servants advisors guardians relatively small sum spent restoring castle arrival council wide ranging role reinforced legislation purpose elaborated act union presidents powers extensively execute local criminals later presidents typically preferred punish imprisonment castle council meeting room establishment gave new lease life period similar fortifications falling decay castle needed considerable renovation lee began work borrowing money sir complained following year castle unfit lee repaired castle roofs probably lead town fines imposed goods confiscated court later claimed work castle cost crown pay directly porter lodge prison built outer bailey woods castle gradually cut 16th century elizabeth influenced royal favourite appointed sir president council took residence castle henry keen antiquarian interest post restore castle late perpendicular style extended castle building family apartments great hall tower royal apartments guest wing starting tradition great hall coats arms council officers larger windows castle clock installed water castle judicial facilities improved new courthouse converted 14th century chapel facilities prisoners storage facilities court records tower outer bailey turned record restoration generally sympathetic included fountain real tennis court walks viewing platform seen castle period 17th century castle appointed 17th century expensive grand household based future charles declared prince wales castle james principal castle wales company called queen players entertained council performed great hall council faced increased criticism legal practices act parliament stripped judicial powers english civil war broke supporters parliament surrounding region supported royalist garrison place town command sir defences strengthened artillery brought nearby castle war turned king garrison drawn provide reinforcements field army military situation deteriorated remaining outlying garrisons drawn protect april sir colonel led parliamentary army short siege surrendered castle town good terms years continued run governors military commander samuel royalist plot retake castle military activity took place valuable items castle removed shortly siege remainder luxurious sold town castle initially kept garrisoned weapons castle removed grounds security sent garrison disbanded altogether political instability commonwealth government led castle men command charles_ii returned throne reinstated castle recovered war earl appointed president given castle company infantry soldiers garrisoned overseen earl task safeguard money contents castle ammunition local welsh militia failed finally disbanded bringing end castle role government condition castle rapidly deteriorated 18th century castle remained disrepair governor proposed castle building residential square site instead contemporary style proposal adopted rooms use hall range buildings inner bailey fallen remaining furniture rotten broken shortly roofs stripped lead wooden floors began collapse writer visited noted castle perfection decay nonetheless rooms remained usable years possibly late drawings entrance block inner bailey intact visitors remarked good condition round chapel stonework ivy trees shrubs chapel finally degenerated ruin army captain served governor castle stripped remained fortification stone reused build later renamed north end tennis courts north outer bailey bowling green stuart lived house decorated great hall remains castle charged visitors fashionable restore castles private homes future considered making estimated costs earl later interested acquiring castle approached crown uncertain intended strip castle materials likely intended turn private home castle according surveyor report later year extremely walls rubble greatly decayed crown offered year lease year accepted die shortly henry son maintained lease wife constructed gravel laid public walks castle dug surrounding cliffs planted trees grounds improve castle appearance castle walls towers given superficial repairs usually parts threatened collapse interior inner bailey costing considerable sums money landscape required expensive maintenance repairs town increasingly fashionable frequented tourists castle forming particularly popular attraction published edition poems describing links reinforcing castle reputation picturesque sublime location castle topic painters interested themes produced depictions castle late 18th early 19th centuries usually taking artistic licence details order produce atmospheric works 19th century lord george brother law heir attempted acquire lease citing efforts family restoring castle faced competition lease government considering castle french prisoner war camp inmates napoleonic wars extensive discussions prisoner war plan finally dropped lord declared earl offered chance buy castle outright accepted earl converted abandoned tennis court closed buying castle new grand building called overlooking north outer bailey 1840s house leased family important members local classes mansion included drawing room dining room study servants quarters worth year rent 19th century vegetation continued grow castle stonework survey highlighted damage caused ivy attempts control plants cleaning walls held high esteem victorian referring glory middle marches wales probably rival britain woodland setting connected growing railway network numbers tourists castle increased admission costing castle wide range uses grassy areas bailey kept grazing sheep goats fox hunting meetings sporting events agricultural shows parts outer bailey timber yard turn century old prison ammunition store local volunteer militia 20th century began sequence archaeological investigations castle publishing conclusions account continues held regard modern academics earl cleared away ivy vegetation castle stonework castle declared ancient monument state continued owned maintained earl trustees estate castle increasingly maintained 1910s 1920s larger trees castle cut animals cleared inner outer basis posed health safety risk visitors 1930s saw major effort clear remaining vegetation castle cleared debris government stable block converted museum tourists continued visit castle 1920s 1930s seeing day trips teams workers region encouraged growth motor transport open spaces inside castle local football matches similar events castle mark anniversary event outer bailey leased diplomat sir carried extensive work property extending north end house including constructing room library estimated cost work continued leased estate wealthy individuals second world war observed spent maintaining upgrading property value property rose period second world war castle allied military great tower look post forces castle gardens baseball games fell death final house briefly royal_air_force turned flats key war workers causing extensive damage later estimated sold following year rented flats 1970s early 1980s assisted estate lending government staff repair castle visitor numbers falling dilapidated condition property estate increasingly unable afford maintain castle function department taken english_heritage systematic approach place based partnership retain ownership castle develop visitor access exchange contribution english_heritage jointly funded programme repairs maintenance delivered specialist contractors included repairs parts curtain wall collapsed redevelopment visitor centre limited archaeological excavation carried outer bailey 21st century 21st century owned current earl held managed trustees castle estate tourist attraction castle receiving visitors year previous decades castle traditionally hosts play annual cultural festival town centre september english_heritage considers england finest castle sites ruins representing remarkably complete multi phase complex protected law scheduled monument grade listed building 21st century dilapidated english_heritage placed risk register property converting use offices rental apartments reopening building architecture castle sits rocky overlooking modern town lower ground east ground slopes castle rivers south west feet castle broadly rectangular shape approximately feet size covering acres total interior divided main parts inner bailey occupies north west corner larger outer bailey enclosure known bailey created early 13th century walls built south west corner inner ward castle walls linked medieval town wall circuit south east sides castle built range different types stone norman stone work constructed greenish grey rubble features carved red sandstone later work primarily local red sandstone outer bailey outer bailey entered gatehouse inside space curtain walls divided north outer bailey gardens house property based old walls tennis court curtain wall north end beacon tower overlooking town half outer bailey houses 16th century porter lodge prison stable block run eastern edge porter lodge prison comprise buildings feet feet built stone stable block far end built stone feet size exterior prison originally decorated coats arms henry earl destroyed barred windows protected property south bailey remains 14th century chapel approximately feet size later converted courthouse addition extension reaching western curtain wall courtroom occupied combined floor records kept rooms underneath south west corner outer bailey cut modern wall rest bailey western curtain wall approximately inch thick guarded 13th century feet externally ground floor vaulted chamber inside foot large built tower storey gateway unusual shaped design possibly similar trim castle ireland 15th century entrance way blocked turn conventional mural tower 16th century additional internal floor inserted tower late end 19th century inner bailey inner bailey represents extent original norman castle protected curtain wall foot foot thick south west sides wall protected ditch originally foot deep cut rock bridge contains stone 16th century predecessor inner bailey separate area called bailey created addition foot thick stone wall south west corner early 13th century gatehouse inner bailey coats arms sir queen elizabeth displayed dating originally building windows probably judges probably additional supporters displayed alongside arms lost porter lodge right hand entrance control access rooms accessed spiral staircase protruding tower prominent triple chimneys lost alongside gatehouse originally half building possibly laundry approximately feet lost east bailey 12th century chapel circular design chapel unusual similar examples existing england castle rising built sandstone circular design shrine originally chapel nave square metres size chancel design heavily altered 16th century nave survives nave survives height feet inches diameter visibly divided sections different bands stonework plaster surviving lower level inside nave bays walls north end bailey occupied range buildings solar block great hall block tudor north east corner tudor form fit space provided curtain wall divided cross wall west approximately feet east feet entered shared spiral staircase design episcopal palaces 16th century originally provided sets individual offices personal rooms court officials later converted distinct apartments block adjoining tudor dates design approximately feet originally main chamber floor altered subsequent years carved heads survive floor represent block tower construction providing combination bed chambers 13th century great hall hall positioned floor originally fitted wooden floor supported stone pillars basement massive wooden roof feet ratio length width typical castle halls period hall reached flight stone steps west end lit tall windows originally window seat south facing receive sunlight originally hall open fire centre normal 13th century middle window turned modern fireplace west great hall solar block irregular measuring feet size floor chamber probably solar cellar service area great hall solar block built time 13th century builders carving inside old norman tower process probably built phases originally intended smaller grand buildings design changed halfway construction finished rushed manner traces seen changes 16th 17th centuries north west towers northern range norman origin 11th early 12th century built created pushing folding line curtain wall create desired external shape adding timber floors timber wall designed individual buildings timber parts towers later replaced stone incorporated later range buildings known tower originally storeys high floor added 14th century followed extensive inside 16th century angles external corners harder attack stonework weakened structural strength tower similar corners closet tower built alongside 13th century altering external appearance norman towers survive bailey known tower contained gate south west tower called oven tower account cooking facilities norman towers looked wales probably symbolic statement range lost stretched bailey great hall including large stone house running curtain wall feet size bailey great kitchen feet size built time great hall oven building lost feet great tower south bailey roughly square building storeys tall walls inch thick exception newer northern facing wall inch thick great tower constructed stages originally relatively large gatehouse original norman castle probably accommodation gateway extended form great tower century gatehouse inner bailey bailey created early 13th century gateway filled new gateway cut inner bailey wall east great tower finally north tower rebuilt century produce great tower appears today vaulted basement foot high norman wall row windows floor blocked echoes chapel probably dates windows large entrance way looked impressive hard defend form tower probably reflected earlier anglo saxon high status towers intended display floor originally formed tall hall feet subsequently subdivided separate floors early 12th century chapel
Ludlow Castle