Goodrich Castle

Above the River Wye, Goodrich Castle was the scene of a dramatic civil war siege which only ended after extensive damage had been caused; not least by Roaring Meg, an enormous mortar which is now on display in the Castle.

Goodrich Castle is a now ruinous Norman medieval castle situated to the north of the village of Goodrich in Herefordshire, England, controlling a key location between Monmouth and Ross-on-Wye. It was praised by William Wordsworth as the "noblest ruin in Herefordshire"^[1] and is considered by historian Adrian Pettifer to be the "most splendid in the county, and one of the best examples of English military architecture".^[2] Goodrich Castle was probably built by Godric of Mappestone after the Norman invasion of England, initially as an earth and wooden fortification. In the middle of the 12th century the original castle was replaced with a stone keep, and was then expanded significantly during the late 13th century into a concentric structure combining luxurious living quarters with extensive defences. The success of Goodrich's design influenced many other constructions across England over the following years. It became the seat of the powerful Talbot family before falling out of favour as a residence in late Tudor times.

For more info please follow the links below:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodrich_Castle
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/goodrich-castle

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The About Herefordshire Team