Castell Hithoet

Has been described as a Possible Uncertain

There are uncertain remains

NameCastell Hithoet
Alternative NamesHychoet; Castell Coch
Historic CountryShropshire
Modern AuthorityShropshire
1974 AuthorityShropshire
Civil Parish

Ricardus comes Cornubiae resedificavit castellum de Radenor prius combustum ab exercitu Lewelini principis illo, ut dicebatur, inconsulto; sed circa finem illius anni discordia inter dominum regem et Ricardum Marescallum orta est, unde idem Marescallus cum indignatione magna a curia recessit et ad Walenses venit, et fidelitate juxta eisdem acceptis quibusdam ex illis secum, villam de Monemu, multis ex suis viris interfectis, combussit, et castra de Kirdive et de Penkelli, de Bulkedinas, de Gevenu et de Blanelleveni cepit. Lewelinus princeps villas de Brechonia et de Clua combussit, et castrum quod vocabatur castell Hithoet cepit et destruxit, necnon et villam de Albo Monasterio in cinerem redegit. (Annales Cambriae 1233)

The prince is described as having overrun Dyffryn Tefeidiog after burning Clun, but this gets us no closer, for the term is merely the Welsh name for the valley of the Teme, to the south of Clun. Llywelyn' general course is clear enough, though the identity of the castle castle which he destroyed remains impenetrably obscure. We have two names for it, both for different reasons unhelpful; on the one hand, no castle is known with any name remotely resembling Hithoet; on the other hand, Castell Coch is a name only too common, and too applicable to sites in the red sandstone country through which Llywelyn's route lay. (King 1983)

Gatehouse Comments

Site mentioned in 1234. Hogg and King (and Jackson ) don't specific Shropshire. Remfry writes (pers corr) almost certainly Bryn Amlwg which is entirely feasible but, as King states, certain identification is impossible on the available evidence. Unlikely to be an unknown or lost castle.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

Not Listed

County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid Reference
Latitude0
Longitude0
Eastings0
Northings0

No photos available. If you can provide pictures please contact Castlefacts

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant.

Calculate Print

Books

  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 2 p. 560
  • Jackson, M.J.,1988, Castles of Shropshire (Shrewsbury: Shropshire Libraries) p. 10
  • Lloyd, J.E., 1912, A history of Wales: from the earliest times to the Edwardian conquest (London) p. 680n140 online copy

Journals

  • Stephenson, D., 2004, 'Castell Coch/Castell Hychoet:: a possible identification' Shropshire History and Archaeology Vol. 77 p. 120-22
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1967, 'Masonry castles in Wales and the Marches: a list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 116 p. 71-132

Primary Sources

  • Williams ab Ithel, John, (ed), 1860, Annales Cambriae (444 – 1288) p. 79 (1233) online copy Brut y Tywysogion 1233 (Several transcriptions and translations exist the best being Jones, T., 1952, Brut Y Twysogion (University of Wales, History and Law series 11)–based on the Peniarth MS 20 version. There is a flawed translation Williams ab Ithel, John, 1860, Brut Y Twysogion or The Chronicle of the Princes (Rolls Series) p. 320-1 [view copy > http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=kCYJAAAAIAAJ&pg=PA320#v=onepage&q&f=false])