Eardisley Castle facts for kids

Eardisley Castle was an old castle located in the village of Eardisley in Herefordshire, England. It was about 11 kilometers (7 miles) northeast of a town called Hay-on-Wye.

Eardisley Castle: A Glimpse into History

What Was Eardisley Castle?

This castle was built in the 11th century. It was a special type of castle called a motte and bailey. This means it had a large earth mound (the motte) with a tower on top, and a walled courtyard (the bailey) below. A moat, which is a deep ditch filled with water, surrounded the bailey. A stream helped keep the moat full.

The castle is mentioned in the Domesday Book, a famous survey of England from 1086. This book shows that a person named Robert held the castle from Roger de Lacy. Robert was likely Robert de Basqueville, whose son was Ralph de Baskerville.

Early Owners and Important Events

Over the years, the castle's ownership changed many times. In 1263, Robert de Clifford owned it. He even held the Bishop of Hereford, Peter de Aquablanca, captive there for a short time.

Around 1272, the Baskerville family probably made Eardisley Castle their main home. However, the castle's official ownership still shifted often. The de Bohuns, who were powerful nobles known as the Earls of Hereford, were the main overlords of Eardisley until 1372. After that, the title of Earl of Hereford ended, and the castle's overlordship passed to the King.

The Castle in Times of Conflict

In 1403, King Henry IV ordered the castle to be made stronger. This was to protect it from attacks by Owain Glyndŵr, a Welsh leader who was rebelling against the English king. However, by 1374, the castle was already in ruins. This means it was likely not fully repaired or used much after that time.

By the 1640s, the castle belonged to Sir Humphrey Baskerville. He was a Royalist, meaning he supported King Charles I during the English Civil War. Sadly, the castle was burned down during this war. Only one of its gatehouse buildings survived the fire. A member of the Baskerville family was still living in this ruined part in 1670, though they were not wealthy.

What's Left Today?

Later, a man named William Barnesley bought the land where the castle stood. He decided to tear down what was left of the castle and build a new home called Eardisley House.

Today, you can only see the earth mound (the motte) and the wet ditches where the moat used to be. The moat itself was filled in during the summer of 1972. In 2011, archaeologists did an excavation (a special dig) at the site to learn more about the castle's past.