Clifford Castle

Mid Wales

12 Mar

Quick Info

Region: Marches
Built: 1066 William Fitz Osborne
In the Care of: Privately owned
Parking: Free parking available
Wheelchair Accessible: No
Dogs Allowed: No
Admission: Paid admission on specific dates
Postcode: HR3

Opening Times: Only open on specific dates each year.

History

This castle was built by William Fitz Osbern in the wake of the Norman invasion. Being one of the first castles built in the area, it was done so on a massive scale. Overlooking the River Wye on a large, a motte was built, giving a drop of 10 -17m high! A large bailey, almost two acres large lay in front of the castle which guarded the approach to the castle and likely housed a town.

By 1102, the Doomsday Book notes that Clifford Castle belonged to Ralph Tosny and there was a small settlement here complising of 16 houses. A deer park and a Cluniac Priory were founded here, although Clifford never expanded past its village size due to the urban competition from near by Hay-on-Wye.

A tower named after a poisoned daughter…
Rosamund’s Tower is a Western tower, one of the most intact today, and it was named after the daughter of Walter fitz Richard who was a mistress to the English King Henry II. “For somoe years the ‘fair Rosamund’ was the king’s mistress, secreted within a maze in the gardens of Woodstock Palace in Oxfordshire, far from the prying eyes of his formidable wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine. But the queen eventually got wind of the affair and found her way through the maze, confronted Rosamund and forced her to take poison - or at least it is claimed in the romantic fables that were later woven around the affair. In reality is seems Rosamund retired to a nunnery once Henry’s affections had moved on, and died there in 1176, aged just thirty. The West tower of Clifford Castle is named after her, even though she was long dead by the time it was built. (Davis, R., Paul. Forgotten Castles of Wales and the Marches. (2011). Logaston Press. Eardisley. Page 181).

What Can You See?

The Castle ruins are on private land, so they are only accessible during specific times of year. Usually May bank holidays, but I recommend you do your research before going so you aren’t disappointed.

There is substantial earth works left, my favourite being the base of two towers that would have stood either side of the entrance into the bailey. Between them is a straight path leading up to the keep on top of the hill and the lack of surrounding buildings and earthworks in the Bailey really accentuates the scale of the structure - very cool! Take a look at my pictures below to to understand better.

Rosamund’s tower is still significantly intact compared to the rest of the ruins, although it isn’t open for you to ascend. Overall this is a lovely castle if you’re in the area and want to tick one of the Marcher Castles off your bucket list! It is in a beautiful, quiet setting and off the beaten track so the perfect place to avoid the more tourist-trapping castles.