Croft Castle

Has been described as a Certain Masonry Castle

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains

NameCroft Castle
Alternative Names
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishCroft and Yarpole

Croft Castle. Two storeys with cellars and attics. Walls of stone and brick, roofed with slate. Roughly rectangular in plan with central courtyard and circular four-stage corner turrets at angles. Probably 15th century or earlier in date. Attic floor and top stages of angle-towers are modern. The original fabric is probably indicated by the thicker walls on the W. and S. sides. N. range with N.E. turret rebuilt in 16th century, and large L-shaped wing added on N. side. Castle dismantled by Royalists in 1645. N.W. range largely reconstructed in brick during the early 18th century, and the S. wall of the N. range rebuilt. Considerable alterations were made during the mid-18th century, followed by the rebuilding of the E. side and the modernisation of the whole of the fabric. The E. (main) front proch and the two projecting bays flanking it are of modern construction. The interior contains some 16th century doorways and ceiling beams, much 17th century wall-panelling, some reused, staircases of 17th century date in whole or part, and several fireplace surrounds c.1700 (RCHME). SO 449655. Weak quadrangular castle with very small round towers and rather thin walls, Mentioned in 1478 (Wm Worcester), and 'defaced' in 1645 to prevent it becoming an enemy stronghold. (PastScape)

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceSO449654
Latitude52.2843399047852
Longitude-2.80852007865906
Eastings344900
Northings265400
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Copyright Dave Barlow of Abaroths World All Rights ReservedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All Rights ReserevedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All Rights ReserevedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All Rights ReserevedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All Rights ReserevedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All Rights ReserevedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All Rights ReserevedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All Rights ReserevedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All Rights ReserevedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All Rights ReserevedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All Rights ReserevedView full Sized Image
Photograph by Andrew Herrett. All Rights ReserevedView full Sized Image

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

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 96-7
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 24-5 (plan)
  • Emery, Anthony, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses of England and Wales Vol. 2 East Anglia, Central England and Wales (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press) p. 529
  • Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge: Boydell Press) p. 95
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 204
  • 1981, Herefordshire Countryside Treasures (Hereford and Worcester County Council) p. 6
  • Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p. 216
  • Reid Peter, 1980, Burke's and Savills Guide to Country Houses Vol. 2 (Burke's Peerage) p. 18-19
  • Pevsner, N., 1963, Buildings of England: Herefordshire p. 109
  • Croft, 1950, The House of Croft of Croft Castle (Hereford)
  • RCHME, 1934, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire Vol. 3: north-west p. 35-6 no. 2 (plan) online transcription
  • 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. 100-1 online copy
  • Robinson, C.J., 1872, A History of the Mansions and Manors of Herefordshire (Logaston Press, 2001 reprint) p. 80-3
  • Robinson, C.J., 1869, The Castles of Herefordshire and Their Lords (London: Longman) p. 32-8 online copy

Antiquarian

Journals

  • 2007, Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol. 78 p. 37-43
  • 2004, Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 52 p. 166
  • Shoesmith, R., 2003, 'Archaeology 2003, Report of Sectional Recorder' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 51 p. 113
  • Shoesmith, R., 2002, 'Archaeology 2002, Report of Sectional Recorder' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 50.3 p. 395, 397
  • Shoesmith, R., 2001, 'Archaeology 2001, Report of Sectional Recorder' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 50.2 p. 267
  • Shoesmith, R., 1998, 'Archaeology 1998, Report of Sectional Recorder' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 49.2 p. 287
  • Cornforth, John, 1987 Dec 31, 'Croft Castle, Herefordshire' Country Life p. 44-9
  • 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
  • Oswald, Arthur, 1950 April 28 and May 5, Country Life p. 1206-10, 1292-6

Guide Books

  • Uhlman, Diana, 1990 (Rev edn), Croft Castle Guide Book (National Trust)
  • Uhlman, Diana, 1979, Croft Castle Guide Book (National Trust)
  • Uhlman, Diana, 1960, Croft Castle Guide Book (National Trust)

Primary Sources

  • Nasmith, J. (ed), 1778, William of Worcester (Cambridge) p. 331 (1478)