Richards Castle gained its name from a certain Richard Fitz Scrob, who came to England before the Norman Conquest and befriended Edward the Confessor.  When Edward became king, he gave many estates away to favoured Normans and Richard  Fitz Scrob was one who benefitted in this way.

Richard was responsible for building one of the first Norman castles in the country, and although its use was short lived the name of the man lives on through the village.

Churches of Richards Castle

• St. Bartholomew's Church - Richards Castle

  This 12th century church, the older of the two in the village, stands next to the ruins of the castle which gives the village its name and there is a glorious view from its position on the hill. St Bartholomew’s Church was made redundant in 1982 and is now cared for by the Churches Conservation Trust.

   

  

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

   

  Detached Tower

  The detached tower next to St. Bartholomew’s church is thought to be 13th century and was possibly built as an extra defence for the castle

   

   

   

   

  

   

   

   

   

  Read More >

News from the Past Richards Castle

• Richards Castle News from the Past

  Man killed by bull, and other stories

  1844 – Monument to an Odd Fellow

  Theophilus Tranter, a brother of the Spring of Providence Lodge of Odd Fellows who met at the Royal Oak Inn, was exercising his horse at the Wood House near Richards Castle, when he bashed his head on the branch of an oak tree;  he fell of the horse and died.

  The brothers of the Lodge erected a tombstone in Orleton churchyard to his memory.

  1845 – Serves Him Right!

  John Smith, a waggoner employed by Charles Mapp of Richards Castle, was beating one of the horses in the stable with a whip.

  Eventually, the horse let fly with both back legs and kicked John in the chest.  He managed to crawl out of the stable, and a surgeon was sent for but after suffering a day of agony he died.

  1847 – Man Killed by Bull

  William Hill, was driving a bull from Mr. Ridgley’s of Richards Castle, down Corve Street;  the bull ran along St. Mary’s Lane with William following behind, when the bull suddenly whipped round and dashed William against a wall with such force that both man and wall collapsed.

  The bull ran on whilst people went to help poor William who was very badly hurt;  He was taken to the lodging house of Elizabeth Higgs who sent for Mr. Egerton Baines, surgeon of Ludlow.

  The surgeon declared at the inquest that William was in dreadful pain and was finding it difficult to breathe…….he had a dislocated shoulder and broken bones which the surgeon did his best to set.  However, soon afterwards the poor man died of his injuries.

   

  Read More >

1844 – Monument to an Odd Fellow

Theophilus Tranter, a brother of the Spring of Providence Lodge of Odd Fellows who met at the Royal Oak Inn, was exercising his horse at the Wood House near Richards Castle, when he bashed his head on the branch of an oak tree;  he fell of the horse and died.

The brothers of the Lodge erected a tombstone in Orleton churchyard to his memory.

1845 – Serves Him Right!

John Smith, a waggoner employed by Charles Mapp of Richards Castle, was beating one of the horses in the stable with a whip.

Eventually, the horse let fly with both back legs and kicked John in the chest.  He managed to crawl out of the stable, and a surgeon was sent for but after suffering a day of agony he died.

1847 – Man Killed by Bull

William Hill, was driving a bull from Mr. Ridgley’s of Richards Castle, down Corve Street;  the bull ran along St. Mary’s Lane with William following behind, when the bull suddenly whipped round and dashed William against a wall with such force that both man and wall collapsed.

The bull ran on whilst people went to help poor William who was very badly hurt;  He was taken to the lodging house of Elizabeth Higgs who sent for Mr. Egerton Baines, surgeon of Ludlow.

The surgeon declared at the inquest that William was in dreadful pain and was finding it difficult to breathe…….he had a dislocated shoulder and broken bones which the surgeon did his best to set.  However, soon afterwards the poor man died of his injuries.

Detached Tower

The detached tower next to St. Bartholomew’s church is thought to be 13th century and was possibly built as an extra defence for the castle