Ewyas Harold Castle
Encyclopedia
Ewyas Harold Castle was a castle
in the village of Ewyas Harold
in Herefordshire
, England
.
The first castle on the site is believed to be one of the very few which were built before the Norman conquest under the Saxons
, probably in 1048, on the site of an earlier fortification, possibly by Osbern Pentecost
. It was a motte and bailey castle overlooking the Dulas Brook. In 1052 the original castle was destroyed either on the orders of Earl Godwin
or by the Welsh
in a raid.
Following the Norman
conquest and invasion of the area the castle was rebuilt by William Fitz Osbern
, Earl of Hereford
. In 1086, the Domesday Book
recorded:
In 1100 a priory
was founded within the bailey
of the castle
.
The castle fell into partial decay until the early 15th century. It was then in the possession of William Beauchamp
, Lord Abergavenny, who refortified it in the face of the threat from Owain Glyndŵr
. There is no record of it being attacked at this time. Owain and his various forces focused their attention on strategies and opportunities elsewhere.
Subsequently it then fell into ruin again by 1645., and today only earthworks remain on the edge of the village to mark where it once stood.
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...
in the village of Ewyas Harold
Ewyas Harold
Ewyas Harold is a village and civil parish in the Golden Valley in Herefordshire, England, near to the Welsh border with present day Monmouthshire and about half way between the towns of Abergavenny and Hereford. It lies on the Dulas brook, and is contiguous with the neighbouring village of...
in 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...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The first castle on the site is believed to be one of the very few which were built before the Norman conquest under the Saxons
Saxons
The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...
, probably in 1048, on the site of an earlier fortification, possibly by Osbern Pentecost
Osbern Pentecost
Sir Osbern Pentecost was a Norman knight who followed Edward the Confessor to England upon Edward's return from exile in Normandy in 1041.He was one of the few Norman landholders in England prior the the Norman Conquest of England in 1066...
. It was a motte and bailey castle overlooking the Dulas Brook. In 1052 the original castle was destroyed either on the orders of Earl Godwin
Godwin, Earl of Wessex
Godwin of Wessex , was one of the most powerful lords in England under the Danish king Cnut the Great and his successors. Cnut made him the first Earl of Wessex...
or by 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...
in a raid.
Following the Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
conquest and invasion of the area the castle was rebuilt by William Fitz Osbern
William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford
William FitzOsbern , Lord of Breteuil, in Normandy, was a relative and close counsellor of William the Conqueror and one of the great magnates of early Norman England...
, Earl of Hereford
Earl of Hereford
The title of Earl of Hereford was created six times in the Peerage of England. See also Duke of Hereford, Viscount Hereford. Dates indicate the years the person held the title for.-Earls of Hereford, First Creation :*Swegen Godwinson...
. In 1086, the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
recorded:
In the jurisdiction of the castle of Ewyas Harold, Roger holds of HenryHenry de FerrersHenry de Ferrers was a Norman soldier from a noble family who took part in the conquest of England and is believed to have fought at the Battle of Hastings of 1066 and, in consequence, was rewarded with much land in the subdued nation.His elder brother William fell in the battle. William and Henri...
three churches and a priest and 32 acres (129,499.5 m²) of land and they render two sesters of honey. In the castle he has two messuages.
In 1100 a priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
was founded within the bailey
Ward (fortification)
In fortifications, a bailey or ward refers to a courtyard enclosed by a curtain wall. In particular, an early type of European castle was known as a Motte-and-bailey. Castles can have more than one ward. Their layout depends both on the local topography and the level of fortification technology...
of the 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...
.
The castle fell into partial decay until the early 15th century. It was then in the possession of William Beauchamp
William Beauchamp
Rev. E. William Beauchamp, CSC, J.D., was named the University of Portland's 19th president by the Board of Regents on November 20, 2003. Prior to his appointment as president, he had served as the University's senior vice president since August 2002...
, Lord Abergavenny, who refortified it in the face of the threat from Owain Glyndŵr
Owain Glyndwr
Owain Glyndŵr , or Owain Glyn Dŵr, anglicised by William Shakespeare as Owen Glendower , was a Welsh ruler and the last native Welshman to hold the title Prince of Wales...
. There is no record of it being attacked at this time. Owain and his various forces focused their attention on strategies and opportunities elsewhere.
Subsequently it then fell into ruin again by 1645., and today only earthworks remain on the edge of the village to mark where it once stood.