Houses of Interest: Herefordshire

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The ECWtravelogue is beginning to turn its attention to those counties further away from Château KeepYourPowderDry. Here begins the Herefordshire entry...


Goodrich  Castle has long been on the ECW travelogue's 'to visit' list, why? Roaring Meg. 

There appears to have been a tradition of gunners giving their 'pieces' nicknames. Roaring Meg appears more than once, but this Roaring Meg is the only known Civil War mortar still in existence. Be still my beating heart.

Goodrich Castle was started in the twelfth century, before it was completed/modified/extended in the latter half of the thirteenth century. And very impressive it must have been too.

Obligatory arty photo, showing how Goodrich commands the landscape

Fast forward to the turbulent times of the seventeenth century. The castle was originally garrisoned by Parliament in 1642 with the consent of Richard Tyler, a local lawyer who was tenant and constable of the castle. The garrison fled to Gloucester when the Royalists advanced on Gloucester. 

After the Royalists failed in their attempt to take Gloucester, the retreating Royalists would occupy the castle and establish a garrison led by the Sir Henry Lingen. 

Lingen and his men did not endear themselves to the locals, clearing the area of farm buildings, and raiding local villages for supplies. Tyler would be imprisoned.

 Lingen and his men (120 men and 50 officers) would hold the castle until 1646.

Colonel John Birch would lead a raiding party on the night of 9th March, breaching the outer wall, burning down the stables after leading as many as 80 horses away. Unfortunately Birch's attention was distracted by matters elsewhere, and over the next few weeks Lingen's men were able to replace their lost horses.

Birch would return in June, to besiege the castle properly. Trenches were dug to protect his ordinance. Stalemate ensued. Lingen would not surrender, and Birch's men found the castle's defences too strong. Until Birch ordered a local forge to casting a mortar that could fire a 200lb/85kg grenado - Roaring Meg.


Meg fired upon the north west tower, and the rock footings undermined. Lingen's men dug a counter-mine underneath Birch's mine. Thankfully Birch's men discovered the counter-mine before it could be employed, and he brought Meg into close range destroying much of the tower. On the 31st July 1646, Lingen lowered his colours and surrendered.

The severely damaged castle was garrisoned by Birch, and Richard Tyler moved back into his home. Parliament ordered it to be slighted, and the work was completed in 1648. 

Goodrich is cared for by English Heritage, so expect tea room, a shop selling wooden swords and expensive fudge.


In the visitor centre there is a small display concerning the siege. With one of Meg's grenadoes, and a few other Civil War artefacts unearthed on the site.


Meg takes pride of place in the courtyard. Close by are a number of cannon balls unearthed on the site by workmen.


Postcodes for SatNavs
Goodrich Castle, Castle Lane, Ross-on-Wye HR9 6HY

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