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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.

Where to fly your drone

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2 tunnels , Erewash (By 360_FPV)

Great place to fly.
Parking for a few cars

Trains, rivers, lakes, canal and fields

Nice spot out of the way with great views of local countryside

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.87834, -1.268131 • what3words: ///radar.hurls.envy

Heston Brake long barrow, Monmouthshire (By gasbag43)

The long barrow near Portskewett is called Heston Brake. It's a Neolithic chambered tomb located in a field on a hill overlooking the Severn Estuary. The site is also known as a "dolmen" or "cairn".

Heston Brake is situated in a field near Portskewett, specifically on the brow of a hill overlooking the Severn Estuary. It's about half a mile northeast of Portskewett

The entrance to the barrow is marked by a small group of puddingstones. In 1888, the chamber of the barrow was excavated and human skeletons, cattle bones, and pottery were found.

The site is on private land but can be accessed via a public footpath. The footpath is reached by a kissing gate about 150 meters from the main road towards Leechpool.

Be wary of lots of overhead cables criss-crossing the site

The barrow is over 4,000 years old, dating back to the Neolithic period. It is considered a significant site and is sometimes mentioned alongside other dolmens like Garn Llwyd and Gwern-y-Clepp

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.59452, -2.715415 • what3words: ///listings.referral.bookcases

Acton Court, South Gloucestershire (By gasbag43)

Acton Court is the historic manor house of Iron Acton in Gloucestershire. It is a grade I listed building of Tudor architecture and has recently been extensively restored.

The Poyntz family owned the property from 1364 until 1680. Nicholas Poyntz(died 1557) added the East Wing onto the existing moated manor house shortly before 1535. Construction took about 9 months to complete. Subsequently, the wing was lavishly and fashionably decorated to impress Henry VIII. The king and his second wife, Anne Boleyn, stayed in the house in 1535, during a tour of the West Country. Building work continued at Acton Court until Nicholas died in 1557.

When the direct line of succession ended in 1680, the house was sold. It was reduced in size and converted for use as a tenanted farmhouse. Due to neglect, the house gradually fell into a dilapidated state.

By the end of the 20th century, practically only the East Wing survived. However, the neglect resulted in a rare example of Tudor royal state apartments being preserved virtually intact. The house was purchased at auction in 1984

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.55576, -2.467225 • what3words: ///clothed.yards.irritated

Little Clett Rock, Caithness North East (By JoeC)

Little Clett is a sea stack of red sandstone sitting in Brough Harbour on Dunnet Head. Although it's possible to walk out to it at low tide, I wouldn't recommend it (especially since the drone can get there for you easily)

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 58.64914, -3.343513 • what3words: ///advances.signified.called

Norbury Park, Croydon (By grandad1950)

In hindsight I should have done a video flying around the track. Something for someone else to do

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.41305, -0.117862 • what3words: ///wedge.looked.winks

Dodington House, South Gloucestershire (By gasbag43)

Dodington Park is a country house and estate in Dodington, South Gloucestershire. The house was built between 1796 and 1816 by James Wyatt for Christopher Bethell Codrington (of the Codrington baronets). The family had made their fortune from sugar plantations in the Caribbean and were significant owners of slaves. It remained in the Codrington family until 1980; it is now owned by the British businessman James Dyson who snapped it up in 2003 for £15m

The estate comprises some 300 acres (120 ha) of landscaped park with woods, lakes, lodges, a dower house, an orangery, a church, and a walled kitchen garden. Formal gardens adjoin the main house. The house is Grade I listed on the National Heritage List for England and the landscaped park is Grade II listed on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. The dower house, orangery, and St Mary's Church which all adjoin the house are also each individually Grade I listed, as is the Bath lodge at the southern part of the estate

With 4,840 sq yds to an acre, the wider estate has 1,452,000 sq yds of space – according to the Daily Express newspaper, you could fit 17,900 normal homes into that…

Parking was in a layby just outside the boundary wall, TOAL was from the Cotswold Way footpath that runs through the grounds

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.51722, -2.358477 • what3words: ///boots.skinny.filled

Ulverscroft Priory, Charnwood (By bryand)

This priory of the Augustinian Order was founded in the reign of Henry II by
Robert, Earl of Leicester. It became a house of Austin Canons in the reign of
Edward II and provided an important lodging post for travellers.
Dissolved in 1539.
Scheduled ancient monument, currently undergoing restoration.
Grid ref: SK 50123 12710

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.70987, -1.260005 • what3words: ///sailing.estimates.image

Kirkby Stephen, Eden (By richrab)

Kirkby Stephen is a market town and civil parish in Cumbria, England. It lies on the A685 and is surrounded by sparsely populated hill country, about 25 miles (40 km) from the nearest larger towns, Kendal and Penrith. The River Eden rises 6 miles (10 km) away in the peat bogs below Hugh Seat and passes the eastern edge of the town. At the 2001 census the parish had a population of 1,832 In 2011, it had a population of 1,822.

Parking and TOAL was from Public car park behind the fire station just off the main North Road running through the town.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 54.47408, -2.34903 • what3words: ///ashes.overpower.scored

Bramcote Hills Park, Broxtowe (By Robinhood)


Bramcote Hills Park is approximately 27 hectares in size, comprising a mix of woodland and parkland. It is a focal point for community participation in leisure and recreational activities and is a much appreciated facility for dog walkers, parents with young children and families.

There are many key and varied features to the park, including the Holocaust Memorial Garden, the cycle path and extensive areas of mixed woodland and open parkland. Historical features include the ice-house, the site of the former Bramcote Hills House and the walled garden.

Facilities include an exciting play area, trim trail and cricket square, as well as picnic areas and seating.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.93959, -1.254038 • what3words: ///bags.lists.glory

Trebarwith Beach, North Cornwall (By LordParker)

Trebarwith Strand is a stunning and dramatic beach located on the North Cornwall coast, near Tintagel. It's known for its vast expanse of golden sand at low tide, framed by towering, rugged cliffs and rock formations. The beach is exposed to the Atlantic, making it popular with surfers when the conditions are right, and the tide comes in quickly, completely covering the sand at high tide.

It's an excellent place to fly a drone for several reasons:

Dramatic Coastal Landscape: The imposing cliffs, rock stacks, and the wide, open beach provide incredibly cinematic and visually striking aerial footage. The contrast between the golden sand and the dark, craggy rocks is beautiful.

Dynamic Tides: The rapid change between low and high tide offers unique opportunities to capture the transformation of the landscape, showcasing the power of the sea.

Surfing Action: If surfers are out, a drone can capture dynamic action shots from perspectives that are impossible from the shore, highlighting the waves and the sport.

Proximity to Landmarks: Its location near The Port William pub and the path towards Tintagel Castle means you can capture broader coastal narratives.

Expansive Views: The open nature of the beach and surrounding cliffs allows for sweeping panoramic shots and impressive wide-angle views of the coastline.

Important Note for Drone Pilots: As with any coastal location, always be mindful of strong winds, rapidly changing weather conditions, and the tide times at Trebarwith Strand. Also, adhere to all local drone regulations and safety guidelines, especially regarding proximity to people and wildlife.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 50.64465, -4.761164 • what3words: ///overhead.slopes.pies


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