Pembridge Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Pembridge Castle |
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| Welsh Newton, Herefordshire, England | |
Pembridge Castle
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 Pembridge Castle
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| Coordinates | 51°52′11″N 2°44′41″W / 51.8698°N 2.7448°W |
| Type | Bailey |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Private |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
Pembridge Castle, originally known as Newland Castle, is a very old castle in Herefordshire, England. It was built a long time ago, between the late 1100s and early 1200s. This castle is considered a Grade I listed building, which means it's a very important historical site. It sits about 1 mile (1.6 km) northwest of a village called Welsh Newton. Even though it's called Pembridge Castle, it's actually quite far from the village of Pembridge itself! Today, the castle is privately owned.
Contents
Pembridge Castle: A Look Back
Pembridge Castle has a long and interesting history. It was likely built by a woman named Matilda de St Valery before the year 1208.
Who Lived at the Castle?
From 1208 onwards, Pembridge Castle became the home of the Pembridge family. Later, in the 1300s and 1400s, other important families like the Wakes and the Mortimer families lived there.
What Happened During the English Civil War?
The castle had a chapel that was built in the 1500s. Sadly, this chapel was ruined in 1644 during the English Civil War. This was a big conflict in England's history.
Modern Restoration Efforts
In the early 1900s, a lot of work was done to rebuild and restore parts of the castle. A Dr. Hedley Bartlett led much of this reconstruction. Thanks to these efforts, we can still see parts of this historic building today.
What Does Pembridge Castle Look Like?
The castle is built on a plot of land that is about 36 meters (118 feet) long and 27 meters (89 feet) wide. It is surrounded by a moat, which is a deep, wide ditch, usually filled with water, that helps protect the castle.
Castle Walls and Structure
The castle's walls are made from strong materials like ashlar (finely cut stone), sandstone, and rubble. The main outer wall, called the curtain wall, is very thick, about 1.4 meters (4.6 feet) wide. This thick wall helped protect the people inside.
The Oldest Part: The Keep
The oldest part of Pembridge Castle is thought to be the keep. This is a tall, strong tower that was often the most protected part of a castle. At Pembridge, the keep is a four-story round tower located on the western corner. Inside, this tower is about 7.5 meters (25 feet) across, and its rooms are about 5 meters (16 feet) wide.
