Goodrich Court
Encyclopedia
Goodrich Court was a 19th century, neo-gothic
castle
built by the antiquarian
Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick
in Goodrich
, Herefordshire
in 1828.
Samuel Meyrick was a noted antiquarian with a strong interest in Welsh history and claimed, incorrectly, to be related to the Welsh prince Owain Gwynedd
. Meyrick desired a Welsh castle as his ancestral home, but was unable to acquire one. Instead he decided to build his own new castle alongside the ruined castle at Goodrich Castle
, near to the Welsh border, which he called Goodrich Court. Architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner
called it a "fantastic and enormous castellated tower-bedecked house", whilst its siting, directly opposite the genuine Norman castle, a positioning which foreshadowed that of Peckforton Castle
and Beeston Castle
, caused Sir Walter Scott to condemn it as "impertinent".
Designed by the Gothic Revival architect Edward Blore
to Meyrick's instructions, Goodrich Court was built of local red sandstone
in the neo-gothic style, and although based on the Edwardian architecture seen at Goodrich Castle
, to some it more resembled a French chateaux. Enjoying a gatehouse, portcullis, battlements, a moat and towers, it was also noted for the Armoury, a large hall which contained Meyrick's famous collection of armour. Many of the details of the castle utilised the heraldic symbols of Alymer de Valence
, a medieval lord at Goodrich Castle
in the early 14th century.
After Meyrick's death in 1848, Goodrich Court was bought by George Moffatt
, a Liberal party
Member of Parliament. The Moffatts extended the castle, including building new stables in the same style as the original property. During the Second World War the castle was used by Felsted School
, which was evacuated from Essex to the area. When the school relocated back to Felsted
, the castle was stripped of its fittings in 1946 and demolished in 1949. The East gatehouse, on the road to Ross-on-Wye
, survives, described by Pevsner as "red stone with round towers and machicoulis." The site of the building is now a nature reserve.
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
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 by the antiquarian
Antiquarian
An antiquarian or antiquary is an aficionado or student of antiquities or things of the past. More specifically, the term is used for those who study history with particular attention to ancient objects of art or science, archaeological and historic sites, or historic archives and manuscripts...
Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick
Samuel Rush Meyrick
Sir Samuel Rush Meyrick was an English collector. He lived at Goodrich Court, Goodrich, Herefordshire, England, and introduced the systematic study of arms and armour.-Life:...
in Goodrich
Goodrich
- People :* Aaron Goodrich , first Chief Justice of Minnesota Territorial Supreme Court * Benjamin Franklin Goodrich , founder of the Goodrich Corporation* Caspar Goodrich , American sailor, son of the admiral* Caspar F...
, 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...
in 1828.
Samuel Meyrick was a noted antiquarian with a strong interest in Welsh history and claimed, incorrectly, to be related to the Welsh prince Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd
Owain Gwynedd ap Gruffydd , in English also known as Owen the Great, was King of Gwynedd from 1137 until his death in 1170. He is occasionally referred to as "Owain I of Gwynedd"; and as "Owain I of Wales" on account of his claim to be King of Wales. He is considered to be the most successful of...
. Meyrick desired a Welsh castle as his ancestral home, but was unable to acquire one. Instead he decided to build his own new castle alongside the ruined castle at Goodrich Castle
Goodrich Castle
Goodrich Castle is a now ruinous Norman medieval castle situated to the north of the village of Goodrich in Herefordshire, England, controlling a key location between Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye...
, near to the Welsh border, which he called Goodrich Court. Architectural historian Nikolaus Pevsner
Nikolaus Pevsner
Sir Nikolaus Bernhard Leon Pevsner, CBE, FBA was a German-born British scholar of history of art and, especially, of history of architecture...
called it a "fantastic and enormous castellated tower-bedecked house", whilst its siting, directly opposite the genuine Norman castle, a positioning which foreshadowed that of Peckforton Castle
Peckforton Castle
Peckforton Castle is a country house built in the style of a medieval castle. It stands in woodland at the north end of Peckforton Hills northwest of the village of Peckforton, Cheshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building...
and Beeston Castle
Beeston Castle
Beeston Castle is a former Royal castle in Beeston, Cheshire, England , perched on a rocky sandstone crag above the Cheshire Plain. It was built in the 1220s by Ranulf de Blondeville, 6th Earl of Chester, , on his return from the Crusades...
, caused Sir Walter Scott to condemn it as "impertinent".
Designed by the Gothic Revival architect Edward Blore
Edward Blore
Edward Blore was a 19th century British landscape and architectural artist, architect and antiquary. He was born in Edinburgh, Scotland ....
to Meyrick's instructions, Goodrich Court was built of local red sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
in the neo-gothic style, and although based on the Edwardian architecture seen at Goodrich Castle
Goodrich Castle
Goodrich Castle is a now ruinous Norman medieval castle situated to the north of the village of Goodrich in Herefordshire, England, controlling a key location between Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye...
, to some it more resembled a French chateaux. Enjoying a gatehouse, portcullis, battlements, a moat and towers, it was also noted for the Armoury, a large hall which contained Meyrick's famous collection of armour. Many of the details of the castle utilised the heraldic symbols of Alymer de Valence
Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
Aymer de Valence, 2nd Earl of Pembroke was a Franco-English nobleman. Though primarily active in England, he also had strong connections with the French royal house. One of the wealthiest and most powerful men of his age, he was a central player in the conflicts between Edward II of England and...
, a medieval lord at Goodrich Castle
Goodrich Castle
Goodrich Castle is a now ruinous Norman medieval castle situated to the north of the village of Goodrich in Herefordshire, England, controlling a key location between Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye...
in the early 14th century.
After Meyrick's death in 1848, Goodrich Court was bought by George Moffatt
George Moffatt (English politician)
George Moffatt was a British Liberal Party politician.He was Member of Parliament for Dartmouth 1845–1852, Ashburton 1852–1859, for Honiton 1860–1865, and for Southampton 1865–1868. He was also the owner of Goodrich Court, a neo-gothic castle in Herefordshire.- External...
, a Liberal party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
Member of Parliament. The Moffatts extended the castle, including building new stables in the same style as the original property. During the Second World War the castle was used by Felsted School
Felsted School
Felsted School, an English co-educational day and boarding independent school, situated in Felsted, Essex. It is in the British Public School tradition, and was founded in 1564 by Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich who, as Lord Chancellor and Chancellor of the Court of Augmentations, acquired...
, which was evacuated from Essex to the area. When the school relocated back to Felsted
Felsted
Felsted is linked to Little Dunmow by the Flitch Way Country Park, a former railway line. The village has links to Lord Riche who founded the public school, The Felsted School, in 1564, and is buried in Holy Cross Church. Lord Riche was an important benefactor of the Felsted church. The school also...
, the castle was stripped of its fittings in 1946 and demolished in 1949. The East gatehouse, on the road to Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye is a small market town with a population of 10,089 in southeastern Herefordshire, England, located on the River Wye, and on the northern edge of the Forest of Dean.-History:...
, survives, described by Pevsner as "red stone with round towers and machicoulis." The site of the building is now a nature reserve.
Further reading
- Lowe, Rosalind. (2003) Sir Samuel Meyrick and Goodrich Court. Logaston Press.