RICHARD'S CASTLE

Herefordshire

Richard's Castle is named after Richard FitzScrob, who built the Castle here around 1050. As one of the "Norman favourites" of Edward the Confessor he was invited to live in England and was allowed to construct one of the first medieval Castles seen here (along with Ewyas Harold, Hereford and Clavering in Essex).  Unlike Ewyas Harold and Hereford, the locals didn't destroy this Castle before the Conquest, and by the time of Domesday it was quite an extensive wooden structure.

Hugh de Say built the octagonal keep of Richard's Castle around 1190, and quite probably much of the walling that remains scattered about the site. Early in the 1200s the Castle passed by marriage into the de Montfort family and in 1264 the Castle was seized on behalf of Simon de Montfort.  This appears to have been the only action Richard's Castle ever saw, as it fell into disuse not long afterwards; although was briefly garrisoned during the Owain Glyndwr rebellion.

Only scattered remains are left today, but these include the bottom of the keep, the gatehouse and several section of curtain wall including one quite elaborate square tower.

The Castle is on public land near the church.

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2001