Ellingham Castle, Much Marcle

Has been described as a Possible Fortified Manor House

There are uncertain remains

NameEllingham Castle, Much Marcle
Alternative NamesQuarry Wood; Hellens; Hellings
Historic CountryHerefordshire
Modern AuthorityHerefordshire
1974 AuthorityHereford and Worcester
Civil ParishMuch Marcle

The site of Ellingham Castle, says Blount, is "in a place not far from the town, now overgrown with wood and called Quarry wood." We can hardly help suspecting that the Quarry which gave its name to the wood was nothing else than the Castle itself, the ruins of which must have afforded convenient material for the roadmaker and local builder. (Robinson 1869)

Gatehouse Comments

Could either be at site of manor of Hellens at map reference given or at a site 'not far from the town, named Quarry Wood in C17 by Blount, this suggests the castle was being robbed of it stone. Salter suggests both site are the same, which probably correct. PastScape records Grade 2-star listed Hellens, no mention possible medieval occupation. Ellingham castle was probably a fortified manor built to replace Mortimer's castle in C13 or C14 which was derelict by early C17 and Hellens mansion was then built on site incorporating and reusing some of earlier material. It is doubtful that the fortifications of Ellingham would have amounted to that required of a castle.

- Philip Davis

Not scheduled

This is a Grade 2* 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 ReferenceSO661332
Latitude51.9965705871582
Longitude-2.49457001686096
Eastings366140
Northings233240
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

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Books

  • Shoesmith, Ron, 2009 (Rev edn.), Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press) p. 229
  • Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern: Folly Publications) p. 28
  • King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol. 1 p. 213 (possible)
  • Malcolm Munthe, 1957, Hellens. The Story of a Herefordshire Manor
  • RCHME, 1932, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire Vol. 2: east p. 130-31 no. 5 (Hellens Hall) 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. 102 online copy
  • Robinson, C.J., 1872, A History of the Mansions and Manors of Herefordshire (Logaston Press, 2001 reprint)
  • Robinson, C.J., 1869, The Castles of Herefordshire and Their Lords (London: Longman) p. 54-7 online copy

Antiquarian

  • Botzum, R. and Reeves, N.C. (eds), 1997, The 1675 Thomas Blount Manuscript History of Herefordshire p. 31

Journals

  • Tonkin, J.W., 1969, 'Buildings, Report of Sectional Recorder' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club Vol. 39.3 p. 485
  • 1945, Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club p. 201-10