Stokesay Castle

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The South Tower and Banqueting Hall.

The Gatehouse with the Church of St John the Baptist in the background.

Plan of the castle

Stokesay Castle, located near the town of Craven Arms in south Shropshire, is the oldest fortified manor house in England; parts of the building date from the 12th century. The great hall was added in the 13th century and the original medieval staircase remains to this day. The castle's most unusual feature is a timber-framed residence built onto the outside of the walls. The Jacobean gatehouse is also timbered. The interior of the castle contains a selection of rare frescos from the Medieval period.

A skirmish took place at the castle during the English civil war.

Despite its present name, Stokesay was not called a castle before the 16th century.

The monument is in the care of English Heritage, which provides a recorded audio tour for visitors.