Bredwardine Oldcastle

Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Motte), and also as a Certain Masonry Castle

There are earthwork remains

NameBredwardine Oldcastle
Alternative NamesBradwardine; Bradwardin; Castle of Gronw; Castel Place
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishBredwardine

There is an irregular oblong-shaped bailey with a narrow projection at the south end, on which once stood the keep. The keep appears to have been divided from the bailey by a ditch. The slight mound of the keep indicates foundations of a rectangular building 78ft x 45ft with a projecting bay on the west side and with two banks extending from either end of the south side, indicating the position of the curtain wall. The enclosure is protected on the east by a scarp to the river and on the north and west sides runs a ditch. A double scarp with berm encloses the south side. (Herefordshire Through Time)

The castle is mentioned by 1189 (B.M. Additional Charter 20408). (Renn)

Gatehouse Comments

Probably built soon after Conquest. Mentioned as old in 1227.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

Not Listed

Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO335443
Latitude52.0931396484375
Longitude-2.97086000442505
Eastings333535
Northings244357
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 69-71
  • Phillips, Neil, 2005, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (University of Wales) p. 125-7 Download from ADS
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 16
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 203
  • 1981, Herefordshire Countryside Treasures (Hereford and Worcester County Council) p. 22
  • Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p. 194
  • Renn, D.F., 1973 (2 edn.), Norman Castles of Britain (London: John Baker) p. 116
  • RCHME, 1931, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire Vol. 1: south-west p. xxxvi, 26 No. 3 (Plan) online transcription
  • Oman, Charles W.C., 1926, Castles (1978 edn Beetham House: New York) p. 148
  • Gould, I. Chalkley, 1908, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Herefordshire Vol. 1 p. 233-4
  • Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (London: Methuen and Co)
  • Mackenzie, J.D., 1896, Castles of England; their story and structure (New York: Macmillan) Vol. 2 p. 97 online copy
  • Robinson, C.J., 1869, The Castles of Herefordshire and Their Lords (London: Longman) p. 19-24, and appendix ii online copy

Antiquarian

Journals

  • Hillaby, J., 1990, 'The Hereford Jewry, 1179-1290 (third and final part). Aaron Ie Blund and the last decades of the Hereford Jewry, 1253-90' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 46.3 p. 475
  • 1988, Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 48 p. 4
  • Shoesmith, R., 1971 Oct, Herefordshire Archaeological newsheet Vol. 23, Plan
  • Shoesmith, R., 1971, Medieval Archaeology Vol. 15 p. 163 download copy
  • Shoesmith, R., 1970, West Midlands Archaeological news sheet Vol. 13 p. 49
  • Shoesmith, R., 1969, 'Bredwardine' Archaeology in Wales Vol. 9 p. 27
  • 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
  • Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol. 112 p. 77-124
  • Cohen, I., 1956, 'Archaeology, Report of Sectional Editor' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 35 p. 182-3

Primary Sources

  • Maxwell Lyte, H.C. (ed), 1903, Calendar of Charter Rolls Henry III 1226-1257 Vol. 1 (HMSO) p. 58-9 (mention as old in 1227) online copy