Hopton Castle - hold cursor down and pan to view surrounding area. View larger Map
Hopton Castle has finally re-opened after maintenance and conservation work - the culmination of a 16-year project to restore the site the infamous English Civil War siege ...
The Preservation Trust set up to save the Grade 1-listed Shropshire castle received £1 million funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund, English Heritage and others, allowing it to be bought from a private landowner.
Hopton Castle was besieged by the Royalists in 1644. The siege became notorious for the massacre that occurred after forces under the Parliamentarian Samuel More offered to surrender. Sir Michael Woodhouse chose not to accept the these terms and all the defenders apart from More were slaughtered and thrown into the moat (though accounts differ). Soon afterwards, the term 'Hopton Quarter' was being used by combatants to describe treacherous behaviour by an enemy.
Channel 4's Time Team conducted a dig at the castle, broadcast in 2010. You can watch it on YouTube here (see here for all the other Time Team episodes at English Civil War sites).
The Duke of Gloucester officially opened the castle on the 1st December 2011. Admission is free, but annual upkeep costs are estimated at £3000.
The website doesn't give seasonal opening times - do you know if the castle is open all the year round?
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