Dorstone Castle

Earthworks of the Dorstone Castle

Dorstone Castle was in the village of Dorstone in Herefordshire, England, located 6 miles to the east of Hay-on-Wye.

Motte and bailey

This was a motte and bailey castle which probably originated in the 12th century when the site was held by the de Sollers family.

Strengthened against Owain

In 1403 Henry IV entrusted the castle to Sir Walter Fitzwalter, a Baron FitzWalter, and asked him to strengthen it against likely raids by Welsh forces of Owain Glyndŵr.

After this time Dorstone Castle changed hands several times. Lady Fitzwalter died about 1422 and afterwards the castle belonged to Richard de la Mare of the de la Mare family and was then owned by the Lysters who sold it to Morgan Aubrey. It was then purchased by the Cornewall family of nearby Moccas Court in 1780.

Only the earthworks now remain.

References

• Dorstone Castle
• Fry, Plantagenet Somerset, The David & Charles Book of Castles, David & Charles, 1980. ISBN 0-7153-7976-3
• Dorstone castle