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Pembridge Castle added to Castles and Fortifications in West Midlands by clinkadink on 23/10/2023

Parking & TOAL: 51.869025, -2.745608

The first thing to be borne in mind about Pembridge castle is that it is thirty miles south of Pembridge village. The reason for this is that both places share a family name. The village of Pembridge between Kington and Leominster gave its name to an Anglo-Norman family. They in turn gave their name to the second Pembridge castle at Welsh Newton by Monmouth. It should be remembered that the second Pembridge castle is a better description of the castle at Welsh Newton as there is a first Pembridge castle within the village of Pembridge itself. The purpose of the article which follows is to chronicle the history of the Pembridge family and unravel the history of Pembridge castle.

It is not certain when the manor of Pembridge came into the hands of the family that was to bear its name. In Domesday the manor (Penebruge) was held by Alfred Marlborough, the lord of Ewias Harold. Here it was noted that the land had been held by Earl Harold before Domesday at a value of £16, and according to the canons of St Guthlac's he and his father, Earl Godwine, had seized it illegally from them. The land had been waste in 1066 and was now worth £10 10s. Interestingly the land was measured as being of eleven hides minus one virgate. The question is why is one virgate missing from the productive land that the Domesday surveyors were looking for? It has been suggested elsewhere that castles were ignored in the survey simply because they were drains on local resources, rather than sources of revenue. If this is the case at Pembridge it may well suggest that the castle was already in existence in this border area. It would therefore seem likely that Ralph Pembridge (1075-1103+) was the first member of that family name to be granted the town by William Braose of Bramber (1073-c.1094). William apparently became lord of Radnor, some time soon after the Domesday survey. Some time in the period 1119 to 1139 and probably between 10 July 1137 and April 1138, it was noted that all the estates of Alfred Marlborough were in the hands of Miles Gloucester (c.1119-43) except for Pembridge. This was elsewhere noted as being held by William Braose.

Ralph Pembridge was one the leading men of the district who witnessed a grant of Philip Braose at Radnor, probably in the period 1094 to 1120, soon after the death of William Braose about 1094. By 1203 his descendant, Henry Pembridge, held five knights' fees in Herefordshire, which almost certainly included Pembridge. Henry died in 1211 and Ralph Pembridge fined with king John for 100 marks and one good horse to enjoy possession of his father's lands. Of this amount he immediately paid 25 marks into the Treasury. Ralph may well have been dead by 22 November 1221 when first mention is made of another Henry Pembridge who had certainly inherited Pembridge by 1230 when his overlord, William Braose, was executed by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. The lordship of Radnor was subsequently passed into the custody of Ralph Mortimer of Wigmore (1211-1246) who married one of the Braose heiress's to his own eldest son Roger Mortimer of Wigmore (1232-82). In 1242 Henry Pembridge was noted as holding Pembridge and the adjacent vills for one knight's fee of the honour of Radnor, then in the custody of Ralph Mortimer.

By 1249 it was noted that Henry Pembridge held Burton of Roger Mortimer's land of Radnor and soon after Henry was made escheator of Worcestershire, an office in which he was replaced on 4 May 1251 by Simon Ribbesford, another Mortimer tenant. Around this time Henry appears to have married Elizabeth Gamages, and through her inherited the lordships and castles of Boughrood and Trewern in Elfael. In 1255 Henry was made sheriff of Hereford, and pursued his new office with great diligence, and consequently tripling the paperwork being kept at the Exchequer. At the start of the first Welsh War of Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in 1256 Henry Pembridge and his overlord Roger Mortimer of Wigmore, appear to have acted in unison for on 28 June 1258 a commission of oyer and terminer was given to Gilbert Talbot and Robert Turbeville touching trespasses and excesses committed against Roger Mortimer and Henry Pembridge in the parts of Wales, by Roger Tony, Richard Thunderley and Alan the constable of Painscastle. No doubt this concerned the manors of Boughrood and Trewern, which Henry therefore appears to have been holding as a member of the lordship of Radnor. On 23 February 1259 Henry was ordered to send 100 marks, from where he was serving with the army of Monmouth, to Roger Mortimer as part payment of his debt to the Crown, in order that Roger could continue his war against the Welsh. Roger's war took a decided turn for the worse in November 1262 when he, with Humphrey Bohun, was defeated at Cefnllys by Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. As a consequence on 24 December the king ordered Henry Pembridge and others to defend the Marches, and soon afterwards Henry Pembridge in particular was ordered to defend 'his castle in the Marches'. Whether this castle was one at Pembridge, Pembridge Castle at Welsh Newton, Boughrood or Trewern is unknown, but one would suspect that Boughrood is meant, although all these regions were then directly threatened by Llywelyn.

That Henry Pembridge was ordered to defend one of his castles suggests that he had already taken the baronial side in the brewing conflict that was to be called the Barons' War. This impression is strengthened on 6 March 1264 when Henry Pembridge and other Marchers were ordered to stop Llywelyn, who was attacking the king's men in the Marches. Those actually being attacked at the time were none other than Roger Mortimer and his supporters and it would appear that Henry was not supporting his overlord, if not directly moving against him at this time. Whatever the case, Henry Pembridge survived the battle of Evesham on 4 August 1265 and was at the council of Westminster in September. Here he insulted Prince Edmund and, enraged, set fire to Warwick before being captured by the royalists. Henry was then given into the charge of Roger Mortimer, who had his own grudges to settle. Henry and his family were incarcerated at Wigmore castle and his estates forfeited to his overlord of Radnor. Roger then forced him to make a formal conveyance of Pembridge to him and ratify this before the court of the county at Hereford. Then, holding his sons hostage, Roger took him to Clarendon where he acknowledged his quit-claim before the king. Four instruments recording this are still preserved in the Mortimer cartulary, and well show Roger's determination to gain the rich land of Pembridge. On 16 November 1265 the king ordered the restoration to Henry of all the lands he had lost to the king's enemies. As Roger Mortimer had never been the king's enemy this did not include Pembridge and Henry Pembridge Junior failed in his 1267 attempt to regain the vill, and with this the Pembridge family appear to have accepted the loss, with Pembridge from now on being a demesne land of the lordship of Radnor. They remained however, lords of Pembridge castle by Welsh Newton until the death of Richard Pembridge in 1346.

The current ruins of Pembridge castle were founded before 1208 by Matilda St Valery, the Amazonian wife of William Braose (d.1211). The western front of the castle consists of a fine three storey round keep standing in a corner between a great hall and solar block and a much rebuilt twin-towered gatehouse. Although the towers here are unequal there are other gatehouses like this throughout the British Isles. Various English examples survive at Beeston, Bungay, Clifford, Dover, Longtown, St Briavels, the Tower of London and Whittington. In Wales they exist at Caerphilly, Carmarthen, Chepstow, Criccieth, Degannwy, Dinas Bran, Llanstephan, Llawhaden, Oystermouth, Powis, Rhuddlan, Tinboeth and White Castle. In Scotland they can be found at Kildrummy and Urquhart and finally elsewhere in Ireland at Carrickfergus, Castle Roche, Limerick and Roscommon.

The eastern front boasts the castle chapel and two unique turrets. Much of the castle still stands to battlement height, although much Victorian rebuilding has taken place. The castle is now a private house, rarely open to the public.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pembridge_Castle

View and discuss this location in more detail on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.8698, -2.744954 • what3words: ///biggest.compiler.observer

The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 22/10/2023. It remains the responsibility of any pilot to check for any changes before flying at the same location. Landowner permission may be required before taking off.

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Mere Down strip lynchets, Salisbury (By gasbag43)

Mere Down is notable for the unusual shape of its steep-sided dry valleys into which are carved some of Wiltshire’s most impressive strip lynchets (the lines visible in the shot across each of the 4 headlands that make up the landscape here)


Strip lynchets, also known as strip lynchet terraces or strip cultivation, are archaeological features found in agricultural landscapes. They are linear earthworks that consist of a series of parallel, stepped terraces on the slopes of hills or inclines from medieval times – the majority of these are to be found in the South West of England in Wiltshire.

Parking is a small layby at the side of the road (room for one car only) in a gap left between the concrete blocks installed to stop access to the field and the road. TOAL is from a public footpath

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.10139, -2.249537 • what3words: ///locked.newsstand.duplicate

Church of St Michael & All Angels, Salisbury (By gasbag43)

Another of my “earth-bound" photography locations, Teffont Evias is often described as one of the most beautiful villages in England.


It’s the ancient church (parts of it are from the 15th century) and nearby manor house that are the standout individual buildings, but it’s the setting overall that makes it worth a visit.


200 meters from the church is a small pond close to the TOAL point – on a calm day, it is possible to get a lovely reflection of the church in the pond from an elevated position but on the day I visited with my Mini 4 Pro, the wind was gusting up to 30mph so I wasn’t able to capture that shot

Parking was on a small gravelled area outside the gate of the electrical sub-station just outside the village. TOAL was from a grass verge overlooking the pond

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.07992, -2.013454 • what3words: ///actor.fracture.innovator

Monkey Forest Trentham, Stafford (By D0c.Col)

I flew around the fringe of the Monkey Forest in order not to disturb them and the views over Trentham Park Lake are great.

Trentham Monkey Forest is home to 140 free-roaming Barbary macaques, allowing visitors to experience these endangered monkeys living as they would in the wild. A 3/4-mile pathway offers an immersive experience, with no cages or bars, where guests can walk, observe, and learn about the monkeys’ natural behaviors. Located in an ancient Staffordshire forest, it’s a perfect day out for visitors of all ages, providing a unique chance to see the monkeys live freely and learn about their conservation. After a year-long rejuvenation project, the forest officially opened its doors on July 19, 2005, showcasing the vast woodland once landscaped by Capability Brown.

A great day out for the family and right next door the the fabulous Trentham Park.

Carparking is free but there is a charge for entry into the Mankey Forest itself.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.94986, -2.198881 • what3words: ///fool.drives.nodded

Garth Mountain, Cardiff (By TheJohnster)

Mountain to the NW of Cardiff, visible from pretty much everywhere in the city. Open moorland between the villages of Pentyrch & Taff's Well, the location for the romcom 'The Englishman Who Went Up A Hill And Came Down A Mountain', which is a local legend but I have no idea if there is any truth to it! Superb viewpoint, bit hazy when I went up on Monday evening (when there was a gorse fire as well which didn't help)

Easy walk up from Mountain Road, parking for half a dozen vehicles at the start of a farm track, or at various locations further east along that road. No restrictions.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.5432, -3.294199 • what3words: ///procures.premature.dimes

Roddlesworth Reservoir, Chorley (By Seadog)

A nice scenic location close to Abbey Village, Nestled between Chorley & Blackburn. Good walking, bird watching area.

Parking a bit of a pain, I parked just up Brinscall road (limited), popular with fell and dog walkers.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.69574, -2.529216 • what3words: ///sapping.bridges.island

The Tollard Royal Folly, North Dorset (By gasbag43)

The Tollard Royal folly, a 65-foot-high, rendered concrete structure in an Indian Mogul style, is located on the Rushmore Estate in Tollard Royal, Wiltshire.

Built in 2009, it was originally intended to accommodate and hide 5 mobile phone masts to be installed by O2, but the phone company pulled out before it was built and the landowner went ahead and built it anyway.

At the time of construction, it was thought to be the tallest folly built in the UK for more than a century.

Parking was a small dirt layby (space for 2 cars only) and the TOAL point a public footpath

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.95046, -2.074743 • what3words: ///steered.homeward.tops

Cheesefoot Head, Winchester (By OzoneVibe)

Following a meetup here (https://greyarro.ws/t/meetup-southampton-area-cheesefoot-head-winchester-10am-on-30th-march-2025/93365), popped back and took the 360.

Car park is small - and you need to climb past some barbed wire to get to the field beyond the end of the car park, and there's a trig-point located in that field.

On the day of the meet (a Sunday), there was a coffee van in the car park, too .. but not on the following day.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.04611, -1.243719 • what3words: ///segregate.scorpions.geologist

Stanton Drew ancient stone circle, Bath and North East Somerset (By gasbag43)

The Stanton Drew stone circles are just outside the village of Stanton Drew in Somerset.

The largest stone circle is the Great Circle, 113 metres in diameter and the second largest stone circle in Britain - it is widely considered to be one of the largest Neolithic monuments to have been built.

The date of construction is not known, but is thought to be between 3000 and 2000 BC, which places it in the Late Neolithic to Early Bronze Age. It was made a scheduled monument in 1982

The Great Circle was surrounded by a ditch and is accompanied by smaller stone circles to the northeast and southwest. There is also a group of three stones, known as The Cove, in the garden of the local pub. The Cove has been shown to be around 1000 years older than the stone circles, and so date from 4000–3000 BC

Parking close by (see icon) - honesty box £1 charge

TOAL from public footpath running parallel to site

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.36697, -2.576024 • what3words: ///tripling.detection.duck

Somerset Memorial, South Gloucestershire (By gasbag43)

The Somerset Monument north of the village of Hawkesbury Upton, Gloucestershire, was built in 1846 to commemorate Lord Robert Edward Somerset. It is a Grade II listed building, and on the Heritage at Risk register.

Lord Robert Edward Somerset was a British soldier who fought during the Peninsular War and the War of the Seventh Coalition. From 1830 he sat in the House of Parliament for Gloucestershire and from 1834 to 1837 was MP for Cirencester.

The stone tower is around 100 feet (30 m) high and has a viewing platform at the top. However, the structure is considered unsafe and not open to visitors so the only view from the top is via drone(!).

The structure tapers slightly and has four panelled sides. On the southern panel is the arms of the Somerset family.

TOAL point was from a public footpath running close to the monument (part of the Cotswold Way)

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.58717, -2.330134 • what3words: ///paint.swoop.most

Worcester Lodge at Badminton House, Cotswold (By gasbag43)

Worcester Lodge is a Grade I listed building designed by William Kent, with southern facing parkland, leading towards the three-mile avenue to Badminton House.

It was completed in 1746 and served as a banqueting hall, a central feature in the landscape, a gatehouse with accommodation for a gatekeeper and a place to watch the Beaufort Hunt based on the estate of Badminton House . Today the grand room inside can be hired as a private dining space and the park in front for weddings and large outdoor events.

The Badminton estate is perhaps best known as the location for the much televised annual Badminton Horse trials

TOAL is from the grass verge that runs alongside the main road that passes in front of the building

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.58278, -2.275308 • what3words: ///ducks.altering.reduction


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