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LONGTOWN CASTLE

Herefordshire

Longtown Castle, Herefordshire

Longtown Castle is one of Herefordshire's better preserved medieval Castles, although it is still quite ruinous.

It stands very close to the Welsh border, and was predated by nearby Ponthendre Castle - a motte - referred to as "the olde castle of Ewyas Lacy" in the Pipe Rolls of 1187/8 which call Longtown Castle "the new castle".

The gatehouse and the circular keep (which is unusual in an English Castle, although common just across the border in Wales) were most likely constructed by Walter de Lacy between 1216 and 1231.  From 1316 the Castle was no longer lived in, and aside from a brief period of occupation during the 1403 Glyndwr scare the Castle fell into disuse and decay from then in.

A very similar round keep exists at Skenfrith Castle just across the Welsh border from here.

Longtown Castle is owned by English Heritage and is freely accessible at all reasonable times.

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2018

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