Wigmore was one of many castles founded along the Welsh Marches after the Norman Conquest, and it retained its military significance until the English Civil War.
A large tower dominated the castle, which was situated close to the border area between England and Wales which was fought over for many centuries. Lords of the Welsh March, like the Mortimers had many special privileges, including the right to make war, to hold courts, and to receive certain revenues otherwise reserved for the king of England.
Wigmore served as the Mortimers' base for numerous military incursions into Wales, and was besieged in 1155 and perhaps also in 1264. It retained its strategic importance throughout the later medieval and Tudor periods, and during the Civil War it was deliberately destroyed by its then owners, the Harleys, to prevent its use as a base by the Royalists.
Brilliana Harley was the wife of Sir Robert Harley (1579-1656), whose father bought Wigmore from the Crown in 1601. The Parliamentarian Harleys were unable to defend both Wigmore and their main home at nearby Brampton Bryan, so they demolished large parts of Wigmore. Brilliana Harley successfully withstood a Royalist siege at Brampton Bryan in the spring of 1643 but the house was eventually destroyed following a second siege in 1644.
Disclaimer
The text and pictures on this page are derived from the 'Heritage Unlocked' series of guidebooks published in 2004. We intend to review, update and enhance the content in the near future as part of the Portico project, whose objective is to provide information on the history, significance, research background and sources for all English Heritage properties.
