Shrewsbury Castle

By Whitchurch Herald on Mar 3, 09 08:33 AM in 2000 onwards

This is an extract from Castles of Shropshire by Peter and Anne Duckers.

Because of the defensive position of the town in a loop of the River Severn, Shrewsbury did not need a large castle. Nevertheless the castle, town walls and bridges created a strong defensive system.

This picture shows the hall block and towers photographed from the 11th Century castle mound or motte.The storeys date from between about 1150 and 1600 and the two flanking towers to about 1250.

As early as 1067 William I ordered that a castle be built and there was a fortress of some kind by 1069 when it was unsuccessfully attacked by the Welsh and Edric "the Wild".

The building of a major motte and bailey began in 1071.

Attacks by the Welsh, who burned the town in 1215 and 1234, prompted the construction of the town walls.

It played a major role in the border conflicts of the 13th Century and was a base for operations against the Welsh under Edward I.

Henry III carried out a lot of building work, including the hall and towers and drawbridge.

After the conquest of Wales the castle went into decline and was in a poor state in 1336, and "wasted" in 1420.

Its resurrection began in 1565 when it was leased by Elizabeth I to local merchant Richard Onslow. He converted it into a town house, which it remained for the next 300 years.

It was granted to the town in 1596 and further restored - though its military career was brief and inglorious.

In 1645 parliamentary forces from Wem laid siege to the town. They marched in and the town rapidly surrendered, followed by the castle.

In 1663 the town surrendered the castle to Charles II, who gave it to Sir Francis Newport, later Earl of Bradford, and it became a town house for many years.

In 1924 it was bought by the Shropshire Horticultural Society and presented to the town.

For most of the 20th Century the hall was used as the borough council chamber, but when bigger premises were needed it became empty.

Since 1985 it has been the home of the Shropshire Regimental Museum.

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