(quote)
Whitney Castle, Whitney on Wye.
SMR NO. 1192 GRID REF: SO 2725 4654
Whitney on Wye is on the North bank of the River Wye close to the Radnorshire border. The site is just to the south of Old Whitney Court and on the west side of the River Wye.
Description of the site today.
There is no trace of a castle at this site now but tradition says that beneath the river which dramatically changed its course in 1730, are still to e seen masses of masonry which may have belonged to the castle.
In 1675 although there was no trace of a castle tower some residents are said to have recollection of a building at this site. (Blount MS)
It was apparently a motte and bailey castle, formerly on a spit of gravel on a bend in the River Wye.
In 1976 Several lumps of mortared masonry and lots of stone with mortar attached were seen in the river, up to ¾ of a mile from the site.
History
Although it is not possible to trace the history of the castle we can trace some of the history of the family who took their name from this place. The Whitney family can trace their descent from Turstin the Fleming who held both Pencomb and Whitney.
1283: Eustachius de Whitney had a grant of free warren in Whitney and in 1306 was knighted under King Edward I. The family is also said to have taken part in The Crusades (the Holy Wars fought over Jerusalem -they began in 1096 and continued well into the 13th century).
1377: Robert Whitney was Sheriff of Herefordhsire and was also Knight of the Shire, as were several of his relatives.
1640's: At the time of the English Civil War Sir Robert Whitney was head of the family, and a devoted Royalist who gave much of his estate to support the King. By his death in 1653 the lands in Pencombe had been sold and his on;y son had produced no male heir and so the name became extinct and the property was divided between the daughters.
It later passed to the Rodd's of Foxley and then to William Wardour M.P. and Colonel Tomkyns Wardour who were related to the families of Monnington and Garnstone.
On Taylor's map of 1754 it is marked as 'castle demolished'
http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/castles/
castlesdata_az/whitney.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment