Caus Castle

Caus Castle stands on the eastern slopes of the Long Mountain in Shropshire, near the border with Wales. It began as an Iron Age hillfort before becoming a Norman motte-and-bailey castle. Roger le Corbet built the first stone defences in the late 11th century, including a tower and curtain wall. The castle’s outer bailey once housed a small town with a church and two streets. Henry II garrisoned it in 1165, and Llywelyn the Great spent part of his childhood there. By the 14th century, it had 58 burgesses, but the Black Death soon after reduced its population. The castle played a key role in Owain Glyndŵr’s rebellion. Its seneschal, Griffith ap Ieuan, briefly supported Glyndŵr before switching sides. In 1443, Sir Gruffudd Vychan killed Sir Christopher Talbot at Caus Castle, an act that led to his outlawry. The Staffords rarely used it after the 15th century, and by 1521 it was already in decay. Joan Thynne defended the castle in the late 16th century, storing weapons in her bedroom. The Civil War finally finished it off in 1645. Today, the ruins show the remains of the motte, tower and curtain wall. The outer bailey’s earthworks still outline where the town once stood. The site offers wide views over the surrounding countryside. Visitors can walk among the stone foundations and imagine the castle’s past life. The nearby Long Mountain provides a backdrop of rolling hills. The contrast between the ruined stonework and the peaceful landscape remains striking.