Shrewsbury Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Shrewsbury Castle |
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| Shrewsbury, Shropshire | |
Shrewsbury Castle
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 Shrewsbury Castle
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| Coordinates | 52°42′40″N 02°44′58″W / 52.71111°N 2.74944°W |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Shropshire Council |
| Site history | |
| Built | 1070 |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Designated | 10 January 1953 |
| Reference no. | 1246877 |
Shrewsbury Castle is a historic castle in Shrewsbury, England, built from red sandstone. It sits on a hill inside a large bend, or meander, of the River Severn. This spot was the perfect place to build the original town.
The castle is located right above the Shrewsbury railway station. Because of its historical importance, it is a Grade I listed building. This means it is a building of special architectural and historic interest and is protected by law.
Contents
History of Shrewsbury Castle
The story of Shrewsbury Castle begins a very long time ago. It has been changed, fought over, and rebuilt many times throughout its long history.
Why was the castle built?
The first castle on this site was ordered by William I around 1067. A few years later, around 1070, a powerful nobleman named Roger de Montgomery made it much larger.
The castle had several important jobs. It was a base for English soldiers to launch operations into nearby Wales. It was also an administrative center, like a town hall, and a strong fortification to protect Shrewsbury. The river protected most of the town, but the castle guarded the main land entrance. Later, town walls were built to make the town even safer from Welsh raids.
Early Battles and Sieges
In 1138, a civil war broke out in England between King Stephen and his cousin, Empress Matilda. The castle was held by William Fitz Alan, who supported Matilda. King Stephen attacked the castle and captured it after a short siege.
Later, in 1215, the castle was briefly taken over by Llywelyn the Great, a powerful Prince of Wales.
From Fortress to Family Home
After the wars with Wales ended around 1300, the castle was not needed as much for defense and started to fall into decay. During the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, it was turned into a private home.
During the English Civil War in the 1640s, the castle was repaired and used as a fortress again. It was held by supporters of the king but surrendered to Parliamentary forces in 1645. After the war, it was bought by Sir Francis Newport in 1663.
In the 1780s, the famous engineer Thomas Telford carried out more repairs and changes. He was hired by Sir William Pulteney, the Member of Parliament for Shrewsbury.
The Castle in Modern Times
In 1924, the Shropshire Horticultural Society bought the castle and gave it to the town. For over 50 years, it was used as the offices for Shrewsbury's local government.
In 1985, the castle got a new purpose. It became the home of the Shropshire Regimental Museum. In 1992, the museum was damaged in an attack, which harmed some of the castle and the collection. It was officially reopened in 1995 by Princess Alexandra. In 2019, the museum was renamed the Soldiers of Shropshire Museum.
What have archaeologists found?
In 2019 and 2020, archaeologists from Shropshire Council and the University of Chester dug at the castle to uncover its secrets.
They found the remains of the original ditch that surrounded the first castle from 1067. They also discovered medieval pottery and two arrowheads. In 2020, they found evidence of fancy feasts, including the bones of a pike fish and possibly a swan.
The Museum Collection
The Soldiers of Shropshire Museum displays items from two famous army regiments: the King's Shropshire Light Infantry and the Shropshire Yeomanry.
Some of the most interesting items include:
- A lock of hair from the French emperor Napoleon Bonaparte.
- The Grand Admiral's Baton that belonged to Karl Dönitz, a German naval commander in World War II.
- Three Victoria Crosses, which is the highest award for bravery. These were awarded to Captain Alfred Kirke Ffrench, Private Charles Irwin, and Sergeant Major Harold Whitfield.
The castle also has a feature called Laura's Tower. From the top, you can see amazing views of the town and the countryside. Today, it is sometimes used for special events and weddings.
See also
- History of Shrewsbury
- Listed buildings in Shrewsbury (southeast central area)
- King's Shropshire Light Infantry
- Ludlow Castle, another English Marches stronghold
- One Corpse Too Many – an historical fiction by Ellis Peters, based on an 1138 battle between Stephen, King of England and supporters of the Empress Matilda
