Wilton Castle

Wilton Castle stands beside the River Wye near Ross-on-Wye in Herefordshire. Built in the 12th century, it is a Norman castle that still reaches battlement height today. The Longchamp family once owned the castle and produced powerful figures such as Bailiffs of Normandy and Chancellors of England. Later, the De Cantilupe and De Grey families added to its influence in the Welsh Marches. Matilda de Grey even claimed in court that the castle dated back to Edward the Confessor’s reign, though this was not true. The castle passed to the Barons Grey of Wilton, a Norman Marcher Lord dynasty, who held it until the mid-16th century. The castle’s history reflects the struggles of the Welsh Marches, where Marcher Lords held special rights. William Grey, the last Baron Grey of Wilton, lost the castle after being captured by the French in 1557. During the English Civil War, Royalist forces under Barnabas Scudamore destroyed the castle to prevent its use by Parliamentarians. Nearby castles like Goodrich, Ruardyn and Raglan also saw action in the same conflict. The ruins remain a reminder of the power and conflicts of the Marcher Lords. Visitors to Wilton Castle find a mostly ruined structure rising above the riverbank. The remaining walls and battlements show the castle’s former strength and height. The setting beside the River Wye adds to the scene, with views of the surrounding countryside. The castle’s history is tied to the wider story of the Welsh Marches and the Norman families who shaped the region. Though now a ruin, it still tells the story of medieval power and conflict.