castle castle norman medieval castle situated north village controlling key location ross praised ruin considered historian splendid county best examples english military architecture probably built norman invasion england initially earth wooden fortification middle 12th century original castle replaced stone expanded significantly late 13th century concentric structure combining luxurious living quarters extensive defences success design influenced constructions england following years seat powerful family falling favour residence late tudor times held parliamentary royalist forces english civil war finally successfully besieged colonel help huge mortar resulting subsequent castle descent ruin end 18th century noted picturesque ruin subject paintings poems events castle provided inspiration famous poem seven 20th century site known tourist location owned english_heritage open public architecture stands high rocky sandstone overlooking commands crossing river known kilometres kilometres ross castle guards line roman road gloucester crosses england wales heart castle early norman square light grey sandstone norman windows buttresses thick walls relatively small size single chambers floor measure metres internally useful defence day day living originally storey door safety later turned window entrance brought ground floor originally earth mound built base protect attack stone work remains courses masonry essentially square structure guarded large towers built somewhat darker sandstone vulnerable southern eastern sides castle ditches metres long metres deep cut rock exploiting natural towers large spurs resulting interface solid square based pyramid circular towers rising walls feature characteristic castles including intended prevent towers attackers castle fourth corner forms gatehouse classic gatehouse design transformed structure tower larger gatehouse included murder holes gatehouse lies large inspired similar design period tower london possibly built designed protect causeway leading gatehouse today half original height includes gate designed trap inner defences gatehouse linked stone causeway gatehouse eastwards facing tower contains chapel unusual arrangement driven lack space recently restored east window reset 15th century glass designed priest seat 15th century window frame replaced taller earlier 13th century window chapel west window modern commemorates british servicemen died radar development altar particularly old possibly pre dating castle bailey designed include number domestic buildings include great hall kitchen large number large towers provided additional accommodation design domestic buildings support defensive arrangements bailey great hall example metres placed strongest position overlooking river allowing benefit multiple large windows huge fireplace sacrificing defensive strength water castle originally raised courtyard later spring valley castle acquired running water beginning 17th century design buildings ensured servants nobility able live separately confined space castle revolutionary time main bailey walls lies stable block ruined visible floor stables north west sides castle protected smaller curtain wall largely ruined accounts suggest original stables hold horses 17th century expanded accommodate history medieval history 11th 12th centuries appears existence known castle named probably local anglo saxon landowner mentioned book victorian historians believed castle date conquest days site small number saxon fortifications welsh border norman times formed sequence territories granted norman nobles alongside wales lay safer english border threat raids attacks continued period 12th century attitudes english nobility welsh began policies successive rulers especially henry_ii began aggressive region century original earth timber fortification dismantled replaced tall relatively small square built stone known tower designed secure imposing relatively cheap build uncertain precisely responsible rebuilding date work beginning 12th century castle passed thought son law son england descended anarchy rival factions stephen cousin empress power married member powerful family usually supported stephen records having seize castle fighting region primarily held supporters suspect built stone early years conflict stephen went appoint brother law earl eventually acquired gilbert son known succeeded richard candidate construction richard fell favour king henry_ii support stephen castle taken royal hands argue king ordered construction great 13th 14th centuries following reigns king richard brother john castle manor held crown king john lost lands france turn deprived key english nobles estates john concerned possible opposition rule accordingly john transferred castle surrounding manor partially compensate lost lands continent marshal famous english knight reputation heroic warrior expanded building additional curtain wall stone existing marshal intervene protect attack famously obliged leave coronation feast gloucester hurry reinforce castle marshal sons inherited castle father death marshal left castle eldest son william turn gave younger brother walter william death marshal second son richard took castle richard led opposition allied welsh resulting besieging castle personal control period walter eventually given died shortly castle briefly reverted crown passed marriage half brother french nobleman noted soldier spent life fighting military campaigns henry arranged marriage marshal estate marriage immensely rich gave title welsh border situation remained unsettled decades security grew significantly worse welsh prince conducted numerous raids english territories particularly affected raids accordingly began build larger castle original onwards marshal earlier work extremely expensive construction work oak trees drawn royal forests building time nephew edward constructing major castles north wales concentric castle built similar design rarity england son built additional line outer defences death including external inspired tower london earlier experimental forerunner effect early success converting fortress major dwelling damaging defensive arrangements influenced later castle conversion berkeley castle passed niece connected young middle england grip oppressive rule lords hugh older son younger royal favourites king sweeping revenge rivals especially marches illegally seized wide range properties particularly vulnerable targets wives husbands favour king unmarried women inheritance hugh younger promptly kidnapped elizabeth london transported imprisoned castle threatened death elizabeth finally forced sign castle lands april elizabeth married 2nd baron seized castle shortly queen isabella france landed england deposed husband elizabeth regained legal title castle following year richard later received permission isabella son create dungeon holding prisoners 15th 16th centuries remained favourite home descendants years early years security situation wales remained concern rebelled english rule welsh forces invaded area responsible fighting welsh advance securing castle time went threat began diminish 15th century considerably expanded size lord quarters castle provided additional accommodation servants shortly wars roses supported faction wars meant frequently fighting england staying castle sheffield died defeat castle transferred john son called later peace king regained control lands castle death 16th century castle fashionable residence distant london useful power base gradually abandoned favour stylish residences continued judicial centre antiquarian noted castle hold prisoners local court castle ditch store confiscated cattle taken local farmers died male heir passed hands earl kent chose live instead rented castle series tenants english civil war castle scene desperate english civil war saw rival factions parliament king power england years war resurgence building castle local lawyer tenant constable castle early considerable renovation work shortly outbreak war earl support tyler garrisoned castle parliament december increasing royalist pressure region forced withdrawal gloucester castle occupied garrison led royalist sir occupation peaceful royalist troops burning surrounding farm buildings tyler imprisoned begun sell livestock property references period refer castle variant royalist situation deteriorated south west remaining royalist strongholds men horses castle conducted raids parliamentary forces region representing continuing challenge action taken strengthen castle defences modern 17th century earthworks castle remained essentially medieval condition parliamentary john birch marched south successful siege besieged castle aim eliminating remaining royalist strongholds personal animosity birch outspoken men birch prevent attacks march burned weakly defended stables surprise night attack driving away royalist horses temporarily denying royalist forces mobility birch unable press home advantage months succeeded replacing horses resumed attacks parliamentary forces june birch returned besieged castle found strong taken direct attack instead began laying trenches allow bring artillery bear structure parliamentary attacks broke pipe carrying water castle courtyard destroyed exploding shells forcing garrison depend older castle castle holding colonel birch built enormous mortar called able fire gunpowder filled shell kilograms weight local forge birch concentrated efforts north west tower mortar masonry foundations responded counter dug parliament tunnel probably succeeded birch brought mortar forward cover darkness launched close range attack tower collapsed buried counter barrels gunpowder thirty barrels beer direct assault imminent surrendered according tradition garrison left tune sir fancy despite damage tyler able castle protected small parliamentary garrison investigation parliamentary agents brown castle following year rendered impossible defend kent new owner castle given damages chose rebuild fortification virtually 18th 19th century history civil war castle remained sold admiral griffin undertook restoration castle retained ruin concept picturesque ruin english clergyman ruins captured book observations river writing castle example correctly picturesque landscape time castle slow state decay early victorian historian noted castle situation far human dwellings leaves inspired sight sinking dignity decay regency victorian artists captured landscape paint picturesque romantic mood setting time castle praised ruin visited encounter little girl met exploring ruins led write poem seven poets period inspired castle including 1820s visitors purchase early site outlining castle history victorian tourists recorded charged castle early 1820s antiquarian sir attempted purchase site aim converting castle private dwelling unable convince owners sell instead built neo gothic similar style door greatly displeased returned found view new building new bridge river built railway line added number visitors castle passed hands began discussions owner large scale collapses parts north west tower curtain wall contributed decision grant castle commissioner works commissioners began programme repairs ruin current state today today castle considered historians splendid county best examples english military architecture castle classed grade listed building scheduled monument substantial remains exist open public managed english_heritage adjacent victorian castle demolished restoring original landscape mortar preserved returned site number civil war found excavations 1920s folklore legends surround castle great alternative tower stories irish held prisoner according tales died attempting escape ghost said tower events english civil war left mark local stories tell niece fell love handsome royalist according stories attempted escape final assault died flash flood trying cross live ghosts site
Goodrich Castle