Brampton Bryan Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brampton Bryan Castle |
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Brampton Bryan, Herefordshire, England | |
![]() Gatehouse to the castle
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Coordinates | 52°20′52″N 2°55′35″W / 52.3478°N 2.9263°W |
Site history | |
Events | English Civil War |
Brampton Bryan Castle is an old castle in the small village of Brampton Bryan, located in Herefordshire, England. It sits very close to the River Teme. This castle was important because it guarded a key road that connected towns like Ludlow and Knighton, leading into Central Wales.
The castle was first mentioned in a very old book called the Domesday Book in 1086. Later, in 1295, it was described as a "tower with curtilage," which means a tower with a courtyard around it. Sadly, most of the castle was destroyed during a big conflict called the English Civil War. Today, you can still see parts of the outer gatehouse, pieces of the inner gatehouse, a section of the kitchen's south wall, and the great hall.
Who Owned Brampton Bryan Castle?
The castle has been owned by the same family for a very long time! In 1294, a man named Bryan de Brampton passed away. His son-in-law, Robert Harley, then inherited the castle. For almost 700 years since then, Brampton Bryan Castle has stayed in the Harley family.
The Civil War and Lady Brilliana Harley
During the English Civil War, the castle faced a tough challenge. It was bravely defended by Lady Brilliana Harley. She was the wife of Robert Harley, who was an important person in Parliament. Parliament is like the government's law-making group. Lady Brilliana's husband was also a Puritan, which was a group of people who wanted to make the Church of England simpler.
Lady Brilliana showed great courage during the war. She led the defense of the castle against attacks. Her actions are a famous part of the castle's history.