Educate. Inspire. Preserve.
Medieval motte and bailey castle covering 4 ha with the oval motte measuring 35 m in diameter and standing approximately 3.5 m high and defended by a dry ditch measuring 20 m – 5 m wide and 2 m deep. The bailey is rectangular and measuring 18 m by 25 m was surrounded by a stone curtain wall with semi-circular towers. The irregular polygonal stone keep on the motte internally measuring 7 m by 11.5 m.
Owned by the Neville family.
Owned by the Vaughan family.
1127 Built by Robert de Chandos.
1196 Noted in the Pipe Rolls
1355 c: Roger de Chandos died. The castle was in ruins.
14-15 C Semi-circular tower in eastern section of the curtain wall
1403 Sir John Chandos was ordered by Henry IV to refortify the castle against Owain Glyndwr.
1422-1461 During: Held by the Earl of Warwick.
1428 Owned by Gile de Bruges.
1436 Owned by Roger de la Mere, Sheriff of Herefordshire.
1540-1546 Itinerary of John Leland: Ruins.
1558-1603 During: Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, was granted the castle by Elizabeth I.
1645 Slighted by the Earl of Levan and the Scottish army.
1665-1668 The Vaughan family sold the castle to William Prosser, of London.
1840’s Owned by Anne Prosser.
1940 Estate for sale.
1986 Estate sold.
Historic England Video on Preserving the Castle – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L4LZnA6ZC1A
Archaeological Survey of site – Snodhill Castle, Peterchurch, Herefordshire. Archaeological, Architectural and Aerial Investigation and Survey (PDF).