CASTLE OF THE WEEK: OLD WARDOUR


CASTLE OF THE WEEK: OLD WARDOUR

Located in Wiltshire, England, Old Wardour Castle was built in the 1390s by John, 5th Baron Lovell after gaining permission from King Richard II. Designed in a hexagonal shape, its appearance is unique in Britain.

The Lovell fell from favour during the Wars of the Roses with Old Wardour being passed through several owners before being bought by Sir Thomas Arundell in 1544. Sir Thomas's son, Sir Matthew Arundell greatly altered the castle in the late 16th Century with his descendants becoming Royalists during the First English Civil War.

Old Wardour was besieged twice in 1643 and 1644. The first siege was led by the Parliamentarian Sir Edward Hungerford who threatened the castle with complete destruction. Lady Arundell agreed to surrender after five days.

The second siege saw Henry, 3rd Baron Arundell reclaim the castle from Parliament. He brought a Royalist army to besiege the Parliamentarian garrison and blockaded Old Wardour. Even though it was his family seat, Arundell blew up much of the castle by mining the walls. It was this action that forced the Parliamentarian garrison to surrender in March 1644. 

Old Wardour may have returned to the Arundell family by force but it remained in a ruined state for over a century. It was not until the late 18th Century that Henry, 8th Baron Arundell borrowed enough funds to finance rebuilding. He used the money to build New Wardour Castle some distance away, leaving Old Wardour Castle as an ornamental ruin. The new "castle" was actually a neoclassical country house and served no military purpose. 

Since the 20th Century, both Wardour Castles have been featured in films, including 'Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1991) and 'Billy Elliot' (2000). Old Wardour Castle is now managed by English Heritage.

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