Moreton Corbet Castle

Moreton Corbet Castle

Having recently visited Stokesay Castle, I decided to join English Heritage in a bid to get out and take more photographs, as well as seeing more of the heritage this country has to offer. As Friday was a lovely day weather-wise, Mum & I headed across the Welsh border into England and decided to visit one or two places.

Moreton Corbet Castle is an English Heritage site situated north east of the Shropshire town of Shrewsbury. Nestled in the beautiful countryside near RAF Shawbury, Moreton Corbet Castle is free to enter for everyone, whether you’re an English Heritage member or not.

Moreton Corbet Castle

We arrived around midday and found the small car park was already fairly full, but luckily we found a space. Upon entering Moreton Corbet Castle grounds (dodging the unsightly dog mess – why can’t people clean up after their dogs?), we discovered that most of the visitors were using the grounds as a base for a picnic (and what better a place to have a picnic?!) and for hunting Pokemon (urgh!). I was beginning to wish we’d taken our own picnic but had to make use of my fruit-infused water instead. Please be aware: There are no food & drink or toilet facilities at Moreton Corbet Castle.

Moreton Corbet Castle

We decided to circle the ruins, before exploring the inside. The grass around the ruins has been left uncut, creating a lovely natural habitat for bees, butterflies and other such creatures. Paths have been cut through, so you don’t have to worry about wading through the long grass.

It is thought that there was a timber castle on the site as early as 1100, but the timber buildings were gradually replaced with stone in the 13th century. The 13th-century gatehouse still stands, though, as with the rest of the castle, was remodelled in the 16th century. Moreton Corbet Castle was sadly abandoned in the 18th century.

Moreton Corbet Castle

Moreton Corbet Castle

Moreton Corbet Castle

Moreton Corbet Castle

Enough of the ruins remain to show that it must have been a stunning building in its heydey. I love the additions of the Wyvern on the eastern corner of the Elizabethan building and the Chimera on the western corner.

Moreton Corbet Castle

St Bartholemew’s Church is next door to Moreton Corbet Castle and contains some tombs of the Corbet family, so I’d recommend taking a look.

So, if you’re ever near Shrewsbury, I’d recommend a visit to Moreton Corbet Castle and, if the weather is right, maybe take a picnic with you!

After our visit to Moreton Corbet Castle, we headed to nearby Haughmond Abbey and Wroxeter Roman City, but more about them in another blog post or two.

16 comments

  1. I am very tempted to join The National Trust and/or English Heritage to get me our visiting more places, because I always love it once I’m there. Great to hear that it is free to visit Moreton Corbet Castle – I will have to keep it in mind. I look forward to your thoughts and pictures of Haughmond Abbey and Wroxeter Roman City.

    • Nikki says:

      I’ve definitely recommend joining one or the other. The National Trust is more expensive though. I managed to get a discount on my English Heritage membership, so it’s worth looking around.

      Haughmond Abbey and Wroxeter Roman City posts coming soon 🙂

  2. Jo says:

    These kind of memberships offer such good value. It looks like you had some great weather for your visit. I totally agree about people cleaning (or not cleaning) up after their dogs, these dog owners give us all a bad name and it’s the reason that places eventually ban the admittance of dogs.

    • Nikki says:

      I managed to get a discount on my membership too. That and being able to visit 3 properties in 1 day is definitely making it worth paying for an annual membership.

  3. Kelly says:

    Lovely!! I think if I lived there I would be traipsing about every spare moment, taking in all these glorious sites! (and sights!)

    I look forward to your next entries.

    • Nikki says:

      I hadn’t realised there were so many English Heritage properties just over the border from us. I’m looking forawrd to visiting them all.

      Follow-up posts coming soon!

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