Urishay Castle facts for kids
Urishay is a special place in Herefordshire, England. It has the remains of an old castle, a chapel from the 1500s, and a house from the 1600s. You can find it about 2.5 kilometers west of a town called Peterchurch.
The Story of Urishay
The name "Urishay" has an interesting past. The first part, "Urishay," comes from a person's name, "Ulric" or "Urri." This person lived there a long time ago, in the 1100s. The second part, "Hay," means a fenced-off area in a forest. It was a place where people could catch wild animals.
Even though people call it Urishay Castle, some wonder if it was truly a castle. It might have just been a very large, important house instead.
Urishay Castle Today
Today, you can still see parts of the old site. There are remains of a "motte," which is a big mound of earth. On top of this mound are the ruins of a house from the 1600s or 1700s.
The ruins of Urishay Castle Chapel are also there. This chapel is very old, dating back to the 1100s. A group called the Friends of Friendless Churches takes care of it. Inside the chapel, the "chancel" (the part near the altar) has a stone altar. This altar has five crosses carved into its surface.
Urishay Castle is considered a very important historical site. It is a Scheduled Ancient Monument. This means it is protected by the government because of its historical value. It is also a grade II* Listed Building. This is another way of saying it's a building of special historical interest.
A Piece of Urishay in America
Did you know a part of Urishay Castle is in America? The Collins Library at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas, has a room from Urishay Castle. This room is from the 1400s. It was moved and set up in the library around 1908. Today, it is known as the Urishay Room.
