Brampton Bryan Castle, 1066 to 1309, and the Civil War, 1642 to 1646

Wigmore lordship

Brampton Bryan Castle covers the foundation of Wigmore lordship and the history of the castle's owning family, the Bramptons. Surprisingly the castle was not named after one of the many Brian Bramptons who held this sub-lordship, but from the Domesday lord of the vill, Richard Barre; the castle and lordship originally being known as Brampton Barre to distinguish it from several other Bramptons in the area.

Bramptons of Brampton Bryan

The Bramptons of Brampton Bryan were usually in the thick of most of the wars during the twelfth and thirteenth century as the major honorial barons of the Mortimers of Wigmore. The first Brian Brampton of the 13th century was a veritable old warhorse, finally being ordered home by Edward I from the muster at Worcester as too old to go into battle against Llywelyn ap Gruffydd in 1277. By this time Brian had been campaigning for at least 60 years and must have been in his 80's! Indeed he appears to have been fatally ill in the November of 1262, only a Welsh uprising in Maelienydd raising him from what appeared to be his deathbed for another 15 years of campaigning which included the battles of Abergavenny, Clun and Evesham.

Present castle site

The present castle site is examined in detail and unusual deductions are made concerning both the early origin and present structure of the remains.

British Castles Series

The first of the British Castles Series to be home-published was Clun Castle in 1994. This was a successful comprehensive history based solely on original Anglo-Welsh manuscripts. Since this 32 more followed making up the present collection in the British Castles Series. Professionals and individuals find them useful for their research and interest purposes in medieval history, archaeology, genealogy, and family and local history.

By Paul Martin Remfry

Publisher: SCS Publishing, 1997
ISBN: 189937633X

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