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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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Queen Elizabeth II Bridge., Thurrock (By richrab)

The Dartford–Thurrock River Crossing, commonly known as the Dartford Crossing and until 1991 the Dartford Tunnel, is a major road crossing of the River Thames in England, carrying the A282 road between Dartford in Kent in the south and Thurrock in Essex in the north.

It consists of two bored tunnels and the cable-stayed Queen Elizabeth II Bridge. The only fixed road crossing of the Thames east of Greater London, it is the busiest estuarial crossing in the United Kingdom, with an average daily use of over 130,000 vehicles.

TOAL and Parked @ ///social.rips.bigger back of the warehouses on a public road.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.4654, 0.258272 • what3words: ///puddles.hiking.broker

Berrington Hall, Herefordshire (By D0c.Col)

BERRINGTON HALL, A NATIONAL TRUST GEM.

Tucked away in the countryside near Leominster, this elegant Georgian mansion is more than just a pretty face; it’s got centuries of stories behind those stately walls.
The Cornewall family first came into possession of the estate in 1386 and they held onto it for nearly 400 years until in 1775, the land was purchased by Thomas Harley. Harley was a wealthy banker, a government contractor, and had served as Lord Mayor of London in 1767.
Harley wanted something grand and fashionable, so the old manor was replaced between 1778 and 1781, with the stunning neoclassical building we see today. Harley used Henry Holland as one of the leading architects of the time. Holland’s style is all about clean lines, symmetry, and refined elegance—and Berrington Hall is a textbook example of Georgian architecture.
He gifted the completed hall to his daughter Anne, who had recently married George Rodney, the son of the famous Admiral George Brydges Rodney, a key figure in the British Navy during the American Revolutionary War.
From there, Berrington stayed in the Rodney family for the next 95 years. It passed down through generations, each one adding their own layer to its history, until eventually in 1901, the estate was sold again—this time to Frederick Cawley, a successful businessman and MP from Manchester. He would later be made Baron Cawley, and the house remained in his family into the mid-20th century.
Fast-forward to 1957, and the 3rd Baron Cawley—Frederick Lee Cawley—decided to hand the estate over to the Treasury, which in turn passed it to the National Trust. Lady Cawley was allowed to continue living in the hall until her death in 1978, so the place stayed a lived-in home right up to the late 20th century.
In 1959, Berrington Hall was officially designated a Grade I listed building, marking it as a site of exceptional architectural and historic interest. And if you visit today, you’ll see why.
Beyond the elegant rooms, you’ll find a glorious landscape designed by Capability Brown, England’s most famous landscape gardener. This was actually one of his last commissions, and it really showcases his signature style: gentle slopes, a mirror-like lake, and those perfect, sweeping views that blend art and nature so seamlessly.
Inside, the house is a time capsule. There’s original 18th-century furniture, delicate plasterwork ceilings, and an incredible curved staircase that’s just begging for a dramatic entrance. There’s also a Victorian laundry, servants' quarters, and behind-the-scenes areas that give you a real sense of what life was like both upstairs and downstairs.
So if you’re into history, architecture, or just love exploring beautiful British houses, Berrington Hall is a must-visit. You get the elegance of the Georgian era, a connection to major historical figures, and the kind of peaceful countryside setting that makes you want to stay all afternoon.

Usual National Trust facilities are available on site. TOAL outside of the National Trust boundary is challenging, but you can maintain VLOS from the adjacent Eye Lane or the A49 from the other side of the property. Either will give opportunities to take photos of the Hall and even a video if your eyesight is good!

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.26907, -2.720167 • what3words: ///informer.miles.tiredness

Ardvreck Castle, Sutherland North and West (By AlbionDrones)

Romantic Ruins... Ardvreck Castle, Assynt, NC500

Another iconic and photogenic location in the far Northwest of the NC500 is the ruins of Ardvreck Castle, which, despite the wind and rain showers, was a popular spot for folks to stop and take in the atmosphere.

There is a free car park and some layby to stop in, the walk over is flat, but fro the layby includes fording a stream. The Castle is in a very ruinous condition, but seems to be a magnet for folks to visit, so was pretty busy on a cold, windy and wet Sunday...

I flew the AIR3, as it handles the wind better than anything else, and had about 9 minutes flight before the rain approached and we retreated to the car for some lunch...

Please note, this is sited within EGR610 MoD Military Low Flying Zone, so you need to check whether the zone is active - on the website - or ring the RAF Low Flyng Hotline to check before flying your drone here.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 58.1664, -4.993975 • what3words: ///removals.enlighten.blinks

Pioneer Meadows, Erewash (By 360_FPV)

Nice location
Flew on a Saturday and really quiet
Lakes Woods and Meadows
Good Parking

Maybe a good place for a meet

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.9526, -1.325183 • what3words: ///stealing.encoder.majors

Blaenavon Ironworks , Torfaen (By gasbag43)

Blaenavon Ironworks is a former industrial site which is now a museum in Blaenavon, Wales. The ironworks was of crucial importance in the development of the ability to use cheap, low quality, high sulphur iron ores worldwide. It was the site of the experiments that led to "the basic steel process" or "Gilchrist–Thomas process".

The ironworks is on the outskirts of Blaenavon, in the borough of Torfaen, within the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, a World Heritage Site. The site is under the care of Cadw, the Welsh Government's historic environment service.

It is approximately 1 mile from the Big Pit national coal museum and adjacent steam railway so all 3 can be wrapped up in one visit to the area

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.77683, -3.089347 • what3words: ///steps.this.opened

Big Pit National Coal Museum, Torfaen (By gasbag43)

Big Pit National Coal Museum is an industrial heritage museum in Blaenavon, Torfaen, Wales. A working coal mine from 1880 to 1980, it was opened to the public in 1983 as a charitable trust.

The site is dedicated to operational preservation of the Welsh heritage of coal mining, which took place during the Industrial Revolution.

Located adjacent to the preserved Pontypool and Blaenavon Railway, Big Pit is part of the Blaenavon Industrial Landscape, and a World Heritage Site,

The preserved steam railway is also worth a drone visit but wasn’t running the day I visited

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.77218, -3.10544 • what3words: ///declining.comedians.cools

Llangynidr Bridge , Powys (By gasbag43)

Llangynidr Bridge is an early 18th-century bridge that crosses the River Usk to the north of Llangynidr, Powys, Wales and is thought by some to be the oldest bridge on the River Usk

It is similar in style to the Crickhowell Bridge over the Usk, which dates from 1706. It has six arches, is 69 m (230 ft) long and the road is 2.4 m (8 ft) wide so a very tight squeeze to drive over…

The bridge became a Grade II listed structure in 1952; it was upgraded to Grade I in 2003 as one of the best early road bridges in Wales, ranked equally with Crickhowell Bridge.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 51.87466, -3.233017 • what3words: ///hiker.found.locals

Nantgwyllt Church, Powys (By gasbag43)

In 1893 the City of Birmingham launched an ambitious scheme to supply fresh drinking water for its growing population. The plan entailed the creation of a reservoir system 75 miles away in the Elan Valley of northern Wales, just west of Rhayader, flooding some 18 dwellings, scattered farms, a church, chapel, and schoolhouse at Nantgwyllt.
The old church, along with the manor house and nearby cottages, were swallowed up by the waters and lost forever when Caban Coch dam was built, but in 1898 a new church was begun on high ground overlooking the Garreg-ddu viaduct.

The church was more than a practical replacement for the lost medieval church - it was carefully sited to achieve maximum aesthetic impact, aligning with the viaduct and the Foel valve tower at the north end of the viaduct to create a picturesque scene.

It’s a nice site to visit, with great views from the ground and from a drone

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 52.26181, -3.599428 • what3words: ///confident.repeated.roof

Duke's Drive viaduct, High Peak (By Tch0rt)

This railway viaduct is built of gritstone and is 176 yards long. It has 13 arches, with 36 ft span, and is 94 ft 6 ins high. It was built in 1892 as part of the Buxton and High Peak Junction Railway.

No restrictions on flight in the area

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 53.24904, -1.903043 • what3words: ///rejoins.cares.minute

Killantringan Lighthouse , Rhins North (By Toby999)

Killantringan Lighthouse and surrounding areas.

View and discuss this location on Grey Arrows.

Co-ordinates: 54.86181, -5.146907 • what3words: ///hops.buyers.washroom


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