Bishop's Castle (remains)

En un regard

Le château en bref

The remains of the castle of Bishop's Castle occupy the northern end of this small Shropshire town, on the spur that overlooks the borough. The castle, which gave the town its name, was built by the bishops of Hereford between the late 11th and early 12th centuries to hold their vast manor of Lydbury, in the Welsh Marches. As much a border fortress as an episcopal palace, it served as an administrative and judicial centre until the 16th century. Today there remains a motte some 56 metres in diameter, levelled on the north side to accommodate a bowling green in the 18th century, and stretches of limestone rubble walling up to seven metres high, often hidden behind the houses of Market Square, Welsh Street and Bull Street. The market square developed on the former outer bailey, and the Castle Hotel (1719) occupies part of the site. The whole is protected as a scheduled monument and the standing walls are listed Grade II; part of it is accessible to the public.