Longtown Castle
Encyclopedia
Longtown Castle is a ruin, originally a Norman
Motte and Bailey
castle and later stone castle
built to provide defence against the Welsh
and protect the border of Herefordshire
.
, Herefordshire
.
The first castle in the district was at Pont Hendre and was probably built by either Walter de Lacy
or his son Roger de Lacy
. It was the scene of bitter fighting between Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford
, Gilbert Talbot and the de Lacy
s in the Anarchy
of 1136 to 1154, during the reign of King Stephen
. Gilbert de Lacy won the contest and his second son Hugh de Lacy was recorded as holding this district in 1166.
Hugh de Lacy was killed in Ireland in 1186 and the next year two castles were recorded in this district in the royal Pipe Rolls
. These were Pont Hendre and the recently built Longtown which was described as a new castle. In 1189 Hugh's son Walter de Lacy
was granted Longtown castle and he was probably responsible for much of the masonry that dominates the town. Walter died greatly in debt to the Crown in 1241 after a very active and varied career.
East of the masonry castle is a rectangular enclosure which may well be the fortification made by Harold Godwinson
in 1056. Harold went on to become King Harold II who was killed at the Battle of Hastings
in 1066.
It is maintained today by English Heritage
.
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
Motte and Bailey
Motte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
castle and later stone castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
built to provide defence against the Welsh
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
and protect the border of Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
.
Location
It is located in LongtownLongtown, Herefordshire
Longtown is a linear village and civil parish in Herefordshire, England. The civil parish also includes the village of Clodock. In the 2001 census the population of the parish was 474.- Location :...
, Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
.
The first castle in the district was at Pont Hendre and was probably built by either Walter de Lacy
Walter de Lacy
Walter de Lacy was Lord of Meath in Ireland and Ludlow in Shropshire in the Welsh Marches.- Life :With his father Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath he built Trim Castle , Trim, County Meath....
or his son Roger de Lacy
Roger de Lacy
Roger de Lacy, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman, a Marcher Lord on the Welsh border.- Lineage :He was son of Walter de Lacy , a retainer of William fitzOsbern. Roger was a castle builder, particularly at Ludlow Castle....
. It was the scene of bitter fighting between Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford
Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford
Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford, was born some time before 1125 and, according to the Hereford Cathedral Book of Obits, died on 22 September 1155...
, Gilbert Talbot and the de Lacy
De Lacy
de Lacy is the surname of an old Norman noble family originating from Lassy . The first records are about Hugh de Lacy . Descendent of Hugh de Lacy left Normandy and travelled to England along with William the Conqueror. Walter and Ilbert de Lacy fought in the battle of Hastings...
s in the Anarchy
Anarchy
Anarchy , has more than one colloquial definition. In the United States, the term "anarchy" typically is meant to refer to a society which lacks publicly recognized government or violently enforced political authority...
of 1136 to 1154, during the reign of King Stephen
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
. Gilbert de Lacy won the contest and his second son Hugh de Lacy was recorded as holding this district in 1166.
Hugh de Lacy was killed in Ireland in 1186 and the next year two castles were recorded in this district in the royal Pipe Rolls
Pipe Rolls
The Pipe rolls, sometimes called the Great rolls, are a collection of financial records maintained by the English Exchequer, or Treasury. The earliest date from the 12th century, and the series extends, mostly complete, from then until 1833. They form the oldest continuous series of records kept by...
. These were Pont Hendre and the recently built Longtown which was described as a new castle. In 1189 Hugh's son Walter de Lacy
Walter de Lacy
Walter de Lacy was Lord of Meath in Ireland and Ludlow in Shropshire in the Welsh Marches.- Life :With his father Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath he built Trim Castle , Trim, County Meath....
was granted Longtown castle and he was probably responsible for much of the masonry that dominates the town. Walter died greatly in debt to the Crown in 1241 after a very active and varied career.
East of the masonry castle is a rectangular enclosure which may well be the fortification made by Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson was the last Anglo-Saxon King of England.It could be argued that Edgar the Atheling, who was proclaimed as king by the witan but never crowned, was really the last Anglo-Saxon king...
in 1056. Harold went on to become King Harold II who was killed at the Battle of Hastings
Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II...
in 1066.
It is maintained today by English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.