Name: Longtown Castle
Rating: 5.0

Longtown Castle

Longtown, Hereford, Herefordshire HR2 0LE, UK

1-99 Years

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Description

Longtown Castle a powerful thick-walled round keep dating from the mid-12th century, characteristic of the Welsh borders, on a large earthen mound within a stone-walled bailey. Set in the beautiful Olchon valley, with magnificent views of the Black Mountains.

The Longtown Castles Project, a local community project supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, have conducted some interesting research and excavations to discover more about the origins of Longtown Castle and nearby Ponthendre Motte.

Free Entry. If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Free
Host birthday parties: No

Features

History of Longtown Castle: The first castle on this site dates from soon after the Norman invasion and was built to control newly conquered Welsh territory and defend the English borderlands from Welsh raiders. A motte or man-made mound was created within an existing earth rampart and topped with a timber tower. In the 12th century this wooden castle was rebuilt in stone, with a fine cylindrical keep – the castle’s most striking feature – on top of the motte.
Recent documentary research and excavations have revealed that Longtown has Roman origins, and that the stone castle, long thought to date from the early 13th century, was probably built in the 1150s.
The Castle’s Origins: Longtown Castle had its origins nearly 2,000 years ago as a Roman fort, probably used by a 500-strong cohort of infantry. They had been sent to fight against a British tribe called the Silures, who were resisting Roman rule. Longtown was one of a group of forts built in the 1st century, each a day’s march from the next, along the front line with the upland tribes who were fighting to retain their independence. It had a square embankment of turf, surrounded by a ditch and topped with a wooden stockade.
The Norman Castle: In 1066 the Normans invaded England and Harold Godwinson, now king of England, was killed at the Battle of Hastings. William the Conqueror sent William FitzOsbern and Walter de Lacy to Herefordshire to defend the border with Wales. They were responsible for building a chain of castles from Chepstow to Ludlow. Walter built his first castle at Walterstone, 4 miles south of Longtown.
The stone castle: After William the Conqueror died in 1087, Walter’s son, Roger de Lacy, twice conspired unsuccessfully against the new king, William Rufus. Roger was exiled to Normandy and his castles at Walterstone, Longtown, Weobley and Ludlow were confiscated.
The later de Lacys: The de Lacy family were immensely rich and became even wealthier when Hugh, Gilbert’s son, went with an English army led by Henry II to Ireland in 1171. The invaders conquered much of Ireland and for a time Hugh became viceroy there. Eventually, however, the de Lacys overreached themselves and in 1210 King John (r.1199–1216) sent an army to expel them.
The inner and outer baileys: The castle and village green are surrounded by the massive rampart of what we now know was a Roman fort, which was strengthened around 1055. Little now survives of the stone walls that defended the inner and outer baileys of the castle. The remaining fragments show that they were 2 metres thick, with a wall-walk about 3 metres high, presumably fronted with a crenellated parapet.
The keep: The keep held the personal apartments of the lord and his family. It was capped by a wall-walk with battlements and three turrets from which lookouts could watch what was happening around the castle. The keep was also a last refuge for the garrison if the castle came under attack and the outer defences were breached.

Facilities

Parking: Limited off-road parking is available by the castle entrance.
Dogs: Dogs on leads are welcome.

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Price

Price: Free

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: No

Open any reasonable time during daylight hours.

Address: Longtown, Hereford, Herefordshire HR2 0LE, UK

Post Code: HR2 0LE

Council: Herefordshire

County: Herefordshire

Road Access: Located in the centre of Longtown.
Bus Access: Abbey Cars service 441 (Wed) & 442 (Tue); Roy Brown Coaches (summer service) B17.
Bicycle Access: Find this site on The National Cycle Network.
Parking: Limited off-road parking is available by the castle entrance.