Pembridge Castle
Encyclopedia
Pembridge Castle, originally called Newland Castle, is a late 12th century to early 13th century Grade I listed former border castle
located approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) northwest of Welsh Newton
in Herefordshire
, England
.
It was most likely constructed by Matilda de St Valery
sometime before 1208. It is over 40 km (24.9 mi) away from the actual village of Pembridge
. Founded by 1208, it was the seat of the Pembridge family, then later the Wakes and Mortimer
families in the 14th and 15th centuries. The chapel is 16th century and was ruined in 1644 during the English Civil War
. Much reconstruction of the castle was undertaken in the early 20th century by a Dr Hedley Bartlett. It remains in private ownership.
The castle sits on a 36 m x 27 m plot of land and is surrounded by a moat
. It is constructed of ashlar, sandstone and rubble walls. The curtain wall
surrounding the castle is 1.4 m thick. The earliest part of the castle, thought to be the keep
, is the four story round tower on the western corner. The internal diameter of the tower is 7.5 m and the internal rooms of the tower are 5 m wide.
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...
located approximately 1 miles (1.6 km) northwest of Welsh Newton
Welsh Newton
Welsh Newton is a small village and civil parish in the county of Herefordshire, England. It is located close to the border with Wales to which the parish extends....
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...
.
It was most likely constructed by Matilda de St Valery
Maud de Braose
Maud de Braose, Lady of Bramber was the wife of William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber, a powerful Marcher baron and court favourite of King John of England...
sometime before 1208. It is over 40 km (24.9 mi) away from the actual village of Pembridge
Pembridge
Pembridge is a village located just south of the River Arrow on the A44 between Leominster and Kington in Herefordshire, England.Describing itself as The Jewel in the Crown of the Black and White Village Trail, Pembridge has a history stretching back at least eight hundred years and is notable for...
. Founded by 1208, it was the seat of the Pembridge family, then later the Wakes and Mortimer
Mortimer
Mortimer is a popular English name, used both as a surname and a given name.- Norman origins :The origin of the name is almost certainly Norman, but the details are disputed....
families in the 14th and 15th centuries. The chapel is 16th century and was ruined in 1644 during the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. Much reconstruction of the castle was undertaken in the early 20th century by a Dr Hedley Bartlett. It remains in private ownership.
The castle sits on a 36 m x 27 m plot of land and is surrounded by a moat
Moat
A moat is a deep, broad ditch, either dry or filled with water, that surrounds a castle, other building or town, historically to provide it with a preliminary line of defence. In some places moats evolved into more extensive water defences, including natural or artificial lakes, dams and sluices...
. It is constructed of ashlar, sandstone and rubble walls. The curtain wall
Curtain wall (fortification)
A curtain wall is a defensive wall between two bastions of a castle or fortress.In earlier designs of castle the curtain walls were often built to a considerable height and were fronted by a ditch or moat to make assault difficult....
surrounding the castle is 1.4 m thick. The earliest part of the castle, thought to be the keep
Keep
A keep is a type of fortified tower built within castles during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars have debated the scope of the word keep, but usually consider it to refer to large towers in castles that were fortified residences, used as a refuge of last resort should the rest of the...
, is the four story round tower on the western corner. The internal diameter of the tower is 7.5 m and the internal rooms of the tower are 5 m wide.