Whittington Castle - Shropshire,
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Whittington Castle in Oswestry, Shropshire is a Castle with a lot of history and a lot of ghostly happenings. The site of many battles and deaths, a ghost hunt in this haunted castle is sure to deliver some activity. Civil War took its toll on the building and during an overnight ghost hunt you may encounter some of the Royalist sympathisers who lost their lives in the bloody battle to save the castle from Cromwells Roundheads. This can be a terrifying location for ghost hunts and may even leave you running for the door you wouldnt be the first.
Ghosts of Whittington Castle
Whittington Castle is steeped in history with many tales of bitter warfare, treachery, death, myths and legends with many accounts of unexplained activity and ghostly sightings. A hooded figure seen under the arch of the main gateway, the ghost of a blacksmith in a leather apron is seen to walk the ruins and there are faces of ghostly children who are regularly seen peering out of the upstairs windows. Are you brave enough to spend time alone in the eerie, dark and oppressive guard room which some staff members absolutely refuse to enter? Join the team as we attempt to discover the spiritual residents which occupy this fascinating haunted castle.
History of Whittington Castle
The fabric of the Castle has been much changed over the hundreds of years since it was built, one of those changes being the 16th century Elizabethan dwelling attached to the northern outer bailey gate-house tower.
The tower keep is 12th century, but has been later modified, the outer gatehouse is no doubt the work of Sir Fulk Fitzwarine of the early 13th century and above the archway can be seen his coat of arms.
Looking at the remains of this once extensive Marches Castle one wonders why this particular site was chosen. In most cases castles had natural defensive features to prevent easy access for attacking forces, such as a river, steep cliffs or deep moat. The highest land in the village, Pen-y-bryn, would have given excellent views towards Offa's Dyke, over which the Welsh raiders frequently invaded English territory. It was protection provided by the treacherous marshlands surrounding the site which was the decisive factor in its choice for the first earthworks and wooden Castle.
William Peverel built the Norman Motte and Bailey castle after the demolition of the previous stronghold built at the time of King Offa, probably of wood with a stockade of sharp posts.
William Peverel had no male heir so his eldest daughter Mellet inherited the castle. The victor of a tournament for her hand in marriage was Warin de Metz of Lorraine who founded a long line of Fitzwarines. They held the castle until 1420.
Much of the remains of the keep date from a rebuilding in 1222. The outer gatehouse with two towers had a 42 foot long drawbridge leading to the drier land to the east.
During the civil war it was loyal to the Royalists until Oliver Cromwell's Roundheads took it by force in 1643. At the time of Queen Mary II ownership of the castle was granted to Fitz-Alan, Earl of Arundel. Later it was sold to Francis William Albany Esq, a London merchant whose Manor and Estate was Fernhill. When his granddaughter Sarah married Thomas Lloyd Esq of Aston the two estates were united.
So to the last joint owners Mrs A Hamilton-Hill and the Lady Newborough of the Lloyd lineage. The Castle is now owned and run by the local community.
The Castle has an interesting history potentially spanning approx 3000 years.
