Wilton Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wilton Castle |
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| Herefordshire, England | |
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 Wilton Castle
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| Coordinates | 51°54′58″N 2°35′48″W / 51.916163°N 2.596635°W |
| Site information | |
| Condition | Still standing, mostly to battlement height |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
Wilton Castle is an old stone castle in Herefordshire, England. It was built in the 1100s, during the Norman period. The castle stands next to the River Wye, close to the town of Ross-on-Wye. It is named after the land it was built on, which was called a manor.
Today, much of the castle still stands, reaching almost to the height of its original battlements. It reminds us of the powerful families who once lived there.
Contents
Who Lived at Wilton Castle?
The first important family to own Wilton Castle was the Longchamps. They were very important people in England and Normandy. Some of them were even Chancellors of England, which was a very high position. They also had disagreements with King John.
Later, the De Cantilupe and De Grey families took over the castle. These families became very powerful in Wales and the areas near the Welsh border, known as the Welsh Marches.
A Claim About the Castle's Age
In 1292, a woman named Matilda de Grey, who was from the De Cantilupe family, made a claim in court. She told King Edward I that her Longchamp ancestors had built the castle even before 1066. However, this was not true. Historians believe the castle was built after 1154.
The Grey Family and Marcher Lords
Wilton Castle became strongly connected to a branch of the Grey family, known as the Barons Grey of Wilton. This family was very important among the Norman Marcher Lords. Marcher Lords were powerful nobles who controlled lands along the border between England and Wales. They had special rights and power in these areas. The Grey family owned Wilton Castle from at least 1308.
The Castle's End
The castle left the Grey family's hands in 1557. This happened when William Grey, who was the 13th Baron Grey of Wilton, was captured by the French. He had been defending a place called Guînes. To get himself freed, he had to sell Wilton Castle to pay his ransom.
Wilton Castle was finally destroyed during the English Civil War. This war took place in England in the 1600s. Troops loyal to the King, led by Barnabas Scudamore, attacked the castle. Many other castles in the area, like Goodrich Castle and Raglan Castle, also saw fighting and sieges during this time.
External links
- Wilton Castle Website
- Ross-on-Wye - Wilton Castle
- Wilton Castle
- Wilton Manor
