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Description: | The ruined, earthwork and buried remains of Goodrich Castle, which rises from the sandstone bedrock of a promontory overlooking a crossing point on the River Wye. The quadrangular castle encloses an earlier tower keep and has an outer ward on its north and west sides. It has a substantial dry moat, now grassed, on the south and east sides, and the drawbridge and gatehouse are defended by an outwork, or barbican. The first documentary evidence to the castle dates to circa 1100. At this time the castle was probably a simple enclosure with timber palisade and tower. The stone keep became the focal point for reorganised defences during or shortly after the war between Stephen and Matilda, 1138-53. In 1204 King John gave Goodrich to William Marshall, who was probably responsible for the construction of the first stone wall and towers around the keep. Under the ownership of William de Valence substantial rebuilding took place in circa 1300, and the majority of the present structure dates from this period. The old keep was downgraded to create a prison, and three additional ranges were built. Goodrich was the principal residence of the Talbot family in the 14th century, and the curtain walls of the barbican and outer ward also date to the 14th century. During the Civil War the castle was occupied for Parliament in 1643, then by the Royalists in 1645. In March, 1646, the Roundheads laid siege and mined under the river side of the castle, which eventually led to its surrender. Goodrich was subsequently partly demolished to prevent its future military use, and the main timbers and lead roofs were removed. The castle was placed in the Care of the Secretary of State in the 1920s and has since undergone a programme of restoration especially in the 1980s. Scheduled and Listed Grade I. | Subjects: | Curtain Wall Defence Religious Ritual And Funerary Quadrangular Castle Domestic Bridge Concentric Castle Chapel Gatehouse Great Hall Moat Transport Tower Keep Angle Tower Water Supply And Drainage | Source: | English Heritage - Viewfinder | Creator: | National Monuments Record | Identifier: | http://pastscape.english-heritage.org.uk... | Language: | en | Go to resource |
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