Goodrich Castle with the 12th C keep in the middle and two towers either side
Goodrich Castle is one of finest and best preserved medieval castles in England. A castle has been here since the 11th C. Nearby was an important crossing point over River Wye, making it a major route between England and Wales passing the castle. Only a few years after the Norman conquest of England, the first castle was built here. But of that nothing really remains now.
Goodrich was largely rebuilt in the late 13th C after Henry III gave it to his half-brother Willian de Valence. William created at Goodrich a most up-to-date castle for its period. The keep, however, remained from the 12thC, and most of it still stands today.
Although it was situated in the Welsh Marches, the castle had mainly a peaceful existence. It was a little bit further east away from the day to day fighting with the Welsh. But during the Civil War the Parliamentarians attacked the Royalist garrison at Goodrich and made it into the beautiful ruin it is today. After a two-month siege the Royalists were forced to surrender.
The approach to the castle, now as in medieval times, was along the outer side of a moat or ditch (it was never permanently filled with water) up to a Barbican, just outside the picture on the right hand side. From the Barbican, a visitor would approach the castle over the bridge that can be seen to the right of the picture. And part of that bridge was in medieval times a wooden drawbridge that could be raised in times of skrimishes
The Barbican, seen from the guard tower above it. The walls of the Barbican have been demolished. Any visitor would enter from the right, where another gatehouse and guard chamber were placed, and then continue in right angle to the bridge and drawbridge in the foreground (the drawbridge has been replaced by a permanent walkway now)
Goodrich seen from below. I am standing in the “ditch” taking the photo and the size of the castle can really be felt from that position. To the right is the bridge from the barbican to the gatehouse.
The passageway underneath the bridge from the BarbicanEntrance to the castle through the gatehouse
Looking south from the bridge before entering the castle. The window to the right is situated at the Chapel and was recently remade
Inside the castle. Surrounding the courtyard is the remains of the Great Hall to the left and living quarters in the corner in the middle of the image. To the right is a staircase tower and part of the chapel. In the middle in the courtyard is a mortar. It was ordered bu Colonel Birch to be made locally in order to attack Goodrich Castle. It could shoot a gunpowder filled shell weighing 85 kg, and was decisive in making the Royalists surrender. The mortar was nicknamed “Roaring Meg”
Willian de Valence died in 1296, but his widow, Countess Joan, continued to live at Goodrich for long periods. Meticulous accounts of her household and what she bought are preserved. We know that she travelled with a retinue of between 120 to 200 persons, so Goodrich must have been quite cramped, when she was in residence at Goodrich.
Another part of the courtyard with the keep in the middle and two towers flanking it either side. The remains of the Great Hall is to the very right of the image
The remains of the north towerMany of the windows had charming window seats built in
Looking north from the castle
And looking east
The former stables were here. I am looking down from the castle. During the Civil War a group of Parliamentary soldiers got in during the night and got away with all the horses and destroyed the stables
And looking up to the castle from the former stables
The outer defence tower to the northwest. This is where Colonel Birch decided to attack, as he judged it to be the weakest point of the castle and he used “Roaring Meg” to demolish the defences.
Looking down towards the ditch/moat dug out around the castle
And looking up from the ditch towards the castle towering above
