Radnor Castle, 1066 to 1282 by Paul Martin Remfry

Early castle site

Radnor Castle explores this early castle site dominating the Saxon exploited plain of Radnor. In Pre-history the Radnor Plain abounded in ancient monuments and the importance of the district did not disappear with the coming of the Romans. By the 10th century the district was tilled by Saxons and in the early Norman period a castle was built on the hill overlooking the site of a possible roman town.

Says was destroyed in battle

In 1196 the castle was sacked before a relieving force under the Mortimers and Says was destroyed in battle. The castle soon passed into the hands of the Braose family and their tangled history is examined from the Norman Conquest of England until 1230. Such great characters as William Braose and his formidable wife, Matilda St Valery, are met and their battles, victories and defeats recorded. Then, unraveled to some depth, are the mid-13th century campaigns of Radnor's later Mortimer lords, especially the great Roger Mortimer of Wigmore who helped win a kingdom for the Lord Edward (later Edward I) against all the odds and then set his sights upon even higher ambitions. The castle site is examined in detail and an attempt is made to reconstruct its now totally buried masonry remains. Above is the castle mound seen from the high ground to the east.

British Castles Series

The first of the British Castles Series to be home-published was Clun Castle in 1994. This was a successful comprehensive history based solely on original Anglo-Welsh manuscripts. Since this 32 more followed making up the present collection in the British Castles Series. Professionals and individuals find them useful for their research and interest purposes in medieval history, archaeology, genealogy, and family and local history.