Bridgnorth Castle

Bridgnorth Castle was founded in 1101-1102 by Robert de Belleme, Earl of Shrewsbury. It was a mighty fortress in its heyday but fell into a state of disrepair by 1281 and was nearly ruined by the time of Henry VIII's reign. In 1646, the castle was surrendered to Parliamentary troops following a three-week siege. The fortress was stripped and the walls were systematically mined and blown up. All that remains of the castle today is the severely listing tower keep. Bridgnorth Castle is a scheduled monument.

Bridgnorth Castle was founded in 1101 by Robert de Belleme, the son of the French Earl, Roger de Montgomery, who succeeded his father to become the Earl of Shrewsbury.Its principal feature, a square great tower, was built during the reign of Henry II. During the Civil War, Bridgnorth was one of the Midlands’ main Royalist strongholds and in 1642 many Royalist troops were garrisoned there. In 1646, Cromwell’s Roundheads arrived with orders to take Bridgnorth for the Parliamentarians from the garrison led by Sir Robert Howard. Following a three week siege, Cromwell was successful and he ordered that the castle be demolished. By 1647 little of the structure remained. The Parliamentarians left it much as it is today, the stone from the castle being taken and used to repair the town’s damaged buildings.Bridgnorth Castle now leans at an angle of 15 degrees, 4 times the lean of the leaning tower of Pisa. The castle grounds were excavated over 3 days by Time Team, clarifying the layout of the castle and the history of its construction.