Photo: George Evans / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0)
About this place
Longtown Castle stands in Herefordshire near the Welsh border, built on a motte first raised as a Roman earthwork before the Normans took it over in the 11th century.
Walter de Lacy established the first fortification here, reusing the earlier Roman earthwork.
His descendant Gilbert de Lacy rebuilt the castle in stone after 1148 and founded the adjoining town of Longtown to help finance the work.
The surviving cylindrical stone keep is one of only a small number of round keeps built in England.
By the 14th century the castle had fallen into decline, though it was pressed back into service during Owain Glyndŵr's rising in 1403.
English Heritage now cares for the site, and visitors can walk freely around the earthworks and keep.
Read more on WikipediaHistory
Walter de Lacy established the first fortification here in the 11th century, reusing an earlier Roman earthwork on the site. His descendant Gilbert de Lacy rebuilt the castle in stone after 1148 and founded the adjoining town of Longtown to help pay for the work. By the 14th century the castle had fallen into decline, though it was pressed back into service during Owain Glyndŵr's rising in 1403.
Architecture
The surviving cylindrical stone keep, set on the original Norman motte, is one of only a small number of round keeps built in England.
Facilities
Plan your visit
Nearest station: Abergavenny Rail Station (9.7 miles)
Open access; typically accessible at any reasonable time during daylight hours. Check the official English Heritage website for any seasonal closures or conservation work affecting access.
Nearby properties
Llanthony Priory
View Llanthony Priory on heritage mapKentchurch Court
View Kentchurch Court on heritage mapSnodhill Castle
View Snodhill Castle on heritage mapWhite Castle Ruins
View White Castle Ruins on heritage mapHistoric places nearby
Within 5 miles of Longtown Castle there are 1 historic properties, including 1 priory.
Within 10 miles of Longtown Castle there are 10 historic properties, including 3 historic buildings, 2 Defences and 2 historic houses, across Cadw, Historic Houses and English Heritage sites.
Within 20 miles of Longtown Castle there are 29 historic properties, including 7 churchs, 4 historic houses and 4 castles, across Cadw, Churches Conservation Trust and Historic Houses sites.
Facts
A rare round Norman keep built on earthworks first dug by the Romans.
- Type
- castle
- Location
- Herefordshire, England
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