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Stokesay Castle, South Shropshire added to English Heritage in West Midlands by D0c.Col on 07/05/2025

Stokesay Castle is one of the best-preserved medieval manor houses in England, with a fascinating history that blends elements of fortified architecture and domestic comfort. Here's a rundown of its story:
Laurence of Ludlow, one of the richest men in England thanks to the wool trade, started building Stokesay around 1281. He acquired a license to fortify the house in 1291, as a sign of wealth and prestige rather than a real need for defence. The castle’s layout, with it’s central great hall, flanking towers, and a moat, demonstrated a blend of domestic luxury and symbolic strength. Laurence died in a shipwreck off the coast of Ireland in 1294, leaving his project largely complete.
The 14th Century was a period of Prosperity and Consolidation for the family, who retained their ownership of Stokesay, and the castle remained a comfortable rural retreat. The estate benefitted from the ongoing wool trade, which continued to fund both improvements and the maintenance of the property. Although there were no major architectural changes made, the property stayed in active use, with the great hall still at the centre of domestic life.
The 15th Century was largely dominated by the Wars of the Roses where supporters of the Houses of Lancaster and York battled each other to gain control of the English throne. By 1471, it had resulted in the end of the Lancastrian male line, and the subsequent creation of the Tudor dynasty via the union of the two houses through marriage. However, throughout the civil war, Stokesay stayed relatively untouched due to its remote location and lack of military value.
It was during this period Stokesay Castle’s Ownership transitioned by marriage to the Vernon family, a well-established gentry who made the castle their home. There were some subsequent additions made to the property, but mostly minor such as improved fireplaces and windows, reflecting changes in domestic living standards of the time.
The 16th Century and the Tudor period brought peace and prosperity, for the Vernons and they continued to occupy and enjoy the castle. Further modifications in line with the time such as interior panelling, updated furnishings, and subtle architectural tweaks were added for comfort, and as a private residence, it retained its medieval character while adapting to Renaissance tastes.
In the 17th Century Stokesay had passed onto William Craven, 1st Earl of Craven, who was a courtier and soldier from London. One of the wealthiest peers in England he was a keen supporter of King Charles I, and therefore it was no surprise that he took the side of the Royalists during the English Civil War. In 1645, the castle was garrisoned by Royalists but surrendered without bloodshed to the Parliamentarians. As was the way during this turbulent period of English history, Parliament ordered its fortifications dismantled, but since it wasn’t truly defensive, only light damage occurred. It was around this time when the timber-framed gatehouse, built around 1640, some 2 years before the war had started, remained unscathed and is now a signature feature of the property.
During the 18th Century the castle began to fall into disrepair as it was no longer used as a main residence. Romantic ruin culture took hold, where visitors saw it as a relic of a lost age. There was no major restoration undertaken at this time, but its picturesque decay continued to draw the attention of antiquarians and artists.
In 1869, John Derby Allcroft, a Victorian philanthropist, and a wealthy glove manufacturer purchased Stokesay Castle and initiated its restoration, sensitively repairing the structure while preserving its medieval elements.

The castle survived both World Wars without damage as Allcroft's descendants continued to own the castle, opening it to the public and dedicating funds from admissions towards upkeep. However, due to the increasing cost of maintenance, Jewell Magnus-Allcroft, the last Allcroft family member to own the castle, entered an agreement with English Heritage in 1986. English Heritage assumed responsibility for the castle's preservation during her lifetime and inherited ownership upon her death in 1992.

Today it continues to be a popular historic site, with visitor-friendly interpretation and events with the emphasis of preservation, digital archiving, and community engagement. Stokesay Castle is a rare example of a medieval building that has never been significantly altered or rebuilt, making it invaluable for historians and tourists alike.

I TOAL from the English Heritage carpark, which on the date of visit cost £3.50. The carpark is very close to the castle and VLOS is easily maintained, however, as English Heritage has a 'no drones' policy I wouldn't advise this approach. Instead TOAL close to the entrance to the Church where I believe the road is open to the public.

There is a cafe and toilets on their carpark so comfort breaks are well taken care of!

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

Co-ordinates: 52.43027, -2.831084 • what3words: ///slave.deodorant.smuggled

The originator declared that this location was not inside a Flight Restriction Zone at the time of being flown on 12/04/2025. 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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Grovely Castle, Salisbury (By gasbag43)

Grovely Castle is the site of an Iron Age hill fort in the parish of Steeple Langford, in Wiltshire. It was once defended by a triple line of ramparts – a single rampart survives.

The remaining rampart stands approximately 3.2 m (10 ft) high, with 1.5 m (4.9 ft) deep ditches, although ploughing has damaged the earthworks in some parts of the site.

Excavations have uncovered the remains of five human skeletons within the ramparts.

A circular enclosure of 35 to 40 m (115 to 131 ft) is evident in the hillfort interior when viewed by drone. There is also a later bank and ditch which runs through the hill-fort from south-west to north-east, and is probably part of an extensive surrounding Celtic field system.

Not much remains of the castle visible at ground level, but its outline is clear from the air. The location is recommended not just for it's historical context, but the valley in which it sits is worth a flying visit all on its own - pretty small Wiltshire villages, rolling hillsides, and Langford Lake nature reserve is just a few minutes from the castle site

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.12066, -1.932478 • what3words: ///countries.fidget.ribs

Clearbury Ring, Salisbury (By gasbag43)

Clearbury Ring is an Iron Age hillfort in the parish of Downton, Wiltshire, approximately 5 kilometres (3 mi) due south of Salisbury city centre. The site is a scheduled monument and straddles the boundary with Odstock parish

The fort occupies a prominent hilltop overlooking the valley of the River Avon and is immediately adjacent to the Clearbury Down Site of Special Scientific Interest

Clearbury Ring encloses an area of approximately 2 hectares (4.9 acres); the rampart is well preserved and consisted of a single bank with a ditch outside it. The fort had a single entrance on the north-west side, consisting simply of a 10-metre (33 ft) wide gap with a causeway across the ditch.

The fort is overgrown with tree cover.

To the south-west of the fort are the remains of a lynchet, consisting of a steep 2-metre (6 ft 7 in) high scarp that runs parallel to the fort's defences. Two other lynchets have been identified near the fort, although they are not as well-preserved, together with faint traces of ancient field boundaries.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.01865, -1.783798 • what3words: ///stowing.pining.dined

Allington Castle, Maidstone (By SteveClark)

A lovely place to fly, a superb building to photo/video and so close to to Allington Marina - 2 for the price if 1. This TOAL site is not ideal with overhanging trees and a narrow path to use but is manageable. Car parking is about 400m away.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.29339, 0.511894 • what3words: ///brand.retrial.matchbox

Atwick Cliffs, East Riding of Yorkshire (By CutThroatJake)

Public footpath on top of the coastal cliffs at Atwick.
Coastal erosion taking its toll on the area.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.94359, -0.181332 • what3words: ///reporting.cluttered.gymnasium

Annan Harbour (By Gogs1)

The town of Annan lies on the Solway coast in Dumfries and Galloway in the South west of Scotland. The harbour, now sadly in decline, has a rich history rooted in fishing, trade and shipbuilding, including in years gone by the construction of 1000 ton tea clippers. Annan Harbour Action Group is now leading a multi million pound regeneration project to restore the harbour and reconnect the town with its maritime history.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 54.9817, -3.270892 • what3words: ///factoring.strut.asleep

Philipps House, Salisbury (By gasbag43)

Lovely location with far-reaching rolling parkland with tranquil views in the grounds of a Neo-Grecian house.

Philipps House (until 1916 Dinton House) is an early 19th-century Neo-Grecian country house at Dinton, overlooking the Nadder valley about 8 miles (13 km) west of Salisbury, Wiltshire.

The house was built in 1816. In 1916 the estate was bought by Bertram Philipps, who renamed the house after himself, then in 1943 he gave the house and grounds to the National Trust. The house is Grade II* listed and its parkland (known as Dinton Park is Grade II* on the Register of Historic Parks and Gardens.

Although Philipps House only dates back to 1816, the parkland trees are evidence of a much more ancient landscape. Of particular note is the massive sweet chestnut near to the house.

Of particular interest (to me!) is the iron age hillfort hidden in the wood behind the house – Wick Ball camp – that I found when reviewing the location on the relevant Ordnance Survey map. The term ‘Wick’ often indicates the presence of a vicus – a Latin term for a settlement outside the walls of a Roman fort. Additionally, the term ‘ball’ often denotes a boundary, and is a shortening of the word ‘bailiwick”. I couldn’t see anything from the air so explored the wood on foot – the boundary ditch and earthworks are clearly visible up close but completely absorbed by the forest

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.08657, -1.995692 • what3words: ///hiked.link.succumbs

St Mary the Virgin church, Salisbury (By gasbag43)

The parish of Dinton lies alongside the B3089 nine miles to the west of Salisbury within a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

The Church of England parish church is St Mary the Virgin, which was begun in the late 12th century. It is a Grade I listed building that backs onto the National Trust’s Dinton Park.

The north doorway survives from the earliest work, while the rest of the church is largely from the 13th and 14th centuries

It’s a picturesque church in its own right, but its proximity to Dinton Park’s rolling countryside as a backdrop that makes it a recommendation to visit

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.0842, -1.988053 • what3words: ///greyhound.terribly.badminton

Codford Circle, West Wiltshire (By gasbag43)

Codford Circle is a Neolithic enclosure, possibly a hillfort, located on the summit of Codford Hill, a chalk promontory of Salisbury Plain, near to the village and civil parish of Codford, in Wiltshire,

It dates from the transition between the Bronze Age and the early Iron Age, and probably had a agricultural function, maybe for granaries. Hilltop enclosures are very unusual, with less than 30 recorded and only in England (though some may have been later been developed into more defensive sites, so disguising their origins). Most are found on the chalk downland of Wessex, Sussex and the Cotswolds, with a few in Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire

The site is oval in plan and approximately of 3.6 ha (8.9 acres). It is surrounded by a bank 6.5 m (21 ft) wide and up to 1.6 m (5.2 ft) high, then a ditch 5 m (16 ft) wide and up to 0.5 m (1.6 ft) deep, although an area on the south eastern edge has been reduced by ploughing. Aerial photography shows signs of an inner ditch, possibly signs of a former palisade fence, and entrances on the east and west sides. The entrances on the southeast and northwest sides are later in date

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.16379, -2.026119 • what3words: ///enacted.punch.straying

ANZAC hill carving, West Wiltshire (By gasbag43)

The Codford area has had a long history with Anzac (Australian and New Zealand) soldiers and during World War I large training and transfer camps were established for the tens of thousands of troops waiting to move to France.

Codford also became a depot in 1916 for the men who had been evacuated from the front line and were not fit to return to the front.

Codford's 'Anzac Badge' was the idea of an Australian Brigade Commander during World War I who wished to leave a visible memento of his brigade when it departed. This consists of a gigantic Rising Sun badge (measuring 53 x 45 metres), carved into the grass of 'Misery Hill' (exposing the underlying bright white chalk) in 1916.

The initial work on the badge was started by the 13th Training Battalion, Australian Imperial Forces (AIF). The badge was then embedded with green, brown and clear beer bottles to make it shine bronze like the badge worn on the Australian uniform.

Maintaining the badge became the focus of punishment parades and as a result the spur on which it is carved became ‘affectionately’ known as Misery Hill by Australian troops

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.15362, -2.024145 • what3words: ///shovels.enchanted.unite

St Michael the Archangel church, Salisbury (By gasbag43)

St Michael's Church in Mere, Wiltshire, is a Grade 1 listed building. It has a rich history dating back to at least the 11th century, with evidence suggesting a Saxon church existed on the site.

The church is dedicated to St. Michael the Archangel and features a striking 15th-century tower, visible for miles around. Over the centuries, the church has been expanded and modified, with significant additions and rebuilds in the 13th, 14th, and 15th centuries

The church is tucked away in a quiet part of town surrounded by cottages of Mere stone. The 15th century tower looks down on a churchyard with 12 yew trees clipped in the shape of skittles and known as the 12 Apostles

The backdrop to the church in this photo shows just a small part of the miles upon miles of lush rolling Wiltshire countryside that surrounds the village with a significant number of ancient earthworks – field systems and forts dating back to the Iron Age – in close proximity making Mere a great base from which to explore the area.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.08894, -2.271037 • what3words: ///famed.pictures.auctioned


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