CLIFFORD CASTLE

Herefordshire

Clifford Castle, another of Herefordshire's dramatic ruins, stands about half a mile from the point where the River Wye flows into Hay-on-Wye and thus into Wales.  The Clifford family moved here from their existing Castle at Castleton (about a mile away) early in the 12th Century.

Rosamund, known as "Fair Rosamund" and "The Maid of Kent" amongst many other names, was born here and was famed for her beauty, becoming the mistress of Henry II (see also Westenhanger Castle, Kent).

Walter de Clifford III who succeeded to the Castle in 1261 probably built the stone Castle that today's ruins represent.  There are two 'bits' to the Castle, on the motte is the remains of a large keep-like structure with a gatehouse and a solidly constructed hall.  On the larger of the two baileys stands the remains of the outer gatehouse.

It was completed by 1233, but Walter owed the Jewish builders a vast sum of money.  When they complained to King Henry III the King sent a message to Walter instructing him to pay. Walter instructed the Royal Messenger to "eate the King's writ, waxe and all".  The King was furious and drove Walter from his Castle, occupying it himself.  In 1310 the Cliffords regained their Castle, but they preferred to live at Skipton Castle in Yorkshire, and the Castle was given to the "third heiress" of the family who was abducted by John Giffard who subsequently married her and gained possession.

The Castle later passed to the inevitable hold of the Mortimers who held it against Owain Glyndwr's rebellion in 1403.  Subsequently Sir Edmund Mortimer was captured by Glyndwr and held at Harlech Castle and was forced to change his allegiances.  The Mortimers lost the Castle and it passed through a succession of disinterested owners until it became today's ruin.

The Castle is on private land, but the owners are very amenable and, indeed, seem to enjoy showing people their historic ruin.

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2018