Snodhill Castle: Castle of Straddle: Strate

• Peterchurch, Herefordshire.
• OSGB –  SO 3220 4037.
• Scheduled Monument.
• Grade II Listed building.

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).