HOPTON CASTLE

Shropshire

This rather small keep, standing ruined in the middle of a famer's field, actually has a long and blood-soaked history.

The Castle dates to the late 1100s, and was constructed by Picot de Say.  The keep was probably never that much taller than what remains.  It was remodelled in the late 1300s, but was essentially the same keep we see today.

It was held until the 1400s by the Hopton family, but by the Civil War it was owned by the Wallop family.  In 1644 during Henry Wallop's absence the Castle was occupied by 31 men under the command of Samuel More on behalf of Parliament.  Sir Michael Woodhouse and 500 Royalists arrived and captured the Castle, thereafter slaughtering virtually everyone inside - some reports saying by tying them back to back and throwing them into a nearby pond to drown (a method later used by Parliamentarian victors at Conway Castle in Wales).

Other reports say Samuel More was forced to watch his men being shot one by one before being transported to Ludlow Castle as a prisoner.

Whichever is the truth, there have been many reports of the ghosts of the garrison being seen marching from the Castle, and slowly disappearing from the neck downwards leaving only their floating heads to arrive at their place of execution.

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2018