Stapleton Castle: Stapleton

• Stapleton, Herefordshire.
• OSGB – SO 32327 65572.
• Scheduled Monument.
• Grade II Listed Building.

Medieval motte and bailey castle with the entrance at the north end of the bailey. Traces of a ditch can be found on the east and west sides.

Built by Hugh Fitz Osbern.

Owned by the Mortimers.

1086                            Domesday: Held by Osbern Fitz Richard.

1140’s                         Built by Osbern Fitz Hugh

1144                            After: Possibly built with a shell keep, curtain wall, gatehouse and drawbridge.

12 C                            Owned by the de Say family.

1223                            Henry III granted a licence to William de Stutville to hold a weekly market.

1304                            Hugh de Mortimer died and the castle passed to Sir Geoffrey de Cornewall through marriage

1403                            Garrisoned against Owain Glyndwr.

1645                            Civil War: Held by Sir Michael Woodhouse, a Royalist. Later: Slighted.

17 C                            Early: H-plan house built within the old keep

1706                            Sold to the Harley family who lived in the house.

1870                           Abandoned.