Whittington Castle

The must see remains of a 12th Century time capsule

The must see remains of a 12th Century time capsule

Beautiful Whittington Castle, 5th August 2022 (Author’s Collection).

Like a number of other castles, and their ruins thereof, that dot the county of England in which I live, Whittington Castle had never reached anywhere near my radar until a few days ago and with time running out on my nearby trip to the Shropshire market town of Oswestry, I resolved to visit as soon as possible.

Today was that day, and what a brilliant decision it was, mixed with the sadness and annoyance that I hadn’t visited this gem years sooner. I truly hope that the images that follow capture this time capsule to the 12th Century and an hour in time centuries later that will live long in my memory.

Rather than my usual bombast and bluster, please see the link below for a more detailed background to this locally owned/funded preservation of a long ago history, of a beautiful castle and associated ruins near the border separating England with Wales, as well as that time capsule I’m so fond of repeating: a centuries old castle surrounded by a moat and a picture book village befitting the majesty of its castle centrepiece.

Whittington Castle - Visit Shropshire
Welcome to Whittington Castle Welcome to Whittington Castle near Oswestry in Shropshire England. The strikingly…www.visitshropshire.co.uk

The following are also quotes and notations attributed to its Wikipedia page:

Legends

One of the most prominent legends concerning Whittington Castle regards the Marian Chalice, thought by some to be the Holy Grail. According to this legend, Sir Fulk FitzWarin, the great grandson of Payne Peveril and one in the line of guardians of the Grail and King Arthur. A story from the 13th century states that the Grail was kept in a private chapel of the castle when Sir Foulke was there. The coat of arms of Fulk FitzWarin is hung above the castle archway.[12]

It is also claimed that the castle formed part of the lordship of a noble Welshman called Tudur Trefor or Tudor Trevor in both the Maelors (that is Maelor Saesneg and Maelor Gymraeg. Though his father Rhys Sais did hold the former, the rest seems to be an invention of Lewis Dwnn in 1846.

Media

Whittington Castle appeared on an episode of Most Haunted on 7 July 2016.

*All images captured by me on Friday 5th August 2022*

I will add only further colour commentary to the images that follow and I hope they convey the beauty of this preservation of incredible architectural history.

(1) Two images of the beautiful St John The Baptist Church in Whittington which sits almost directly opposite from the castle ruins.

(2) Two images of the beautiful St John The Baptist Church in Whittington which sits almost directly opposite from the castle ruins.

Just a mile or so away from the castle itself is Whittington Wharf on the Llangollen Canal. Please say hello to “Emersons Speedway” and a bemused pleasure boater passing through!

The “Genie in the Lamp” and a return view along this tiny wharf and canal mooring point.

(1) The immeasurably pleasing picture book entrance to Whittington Castle.

(2) The immeasurably pleasing picture book entrance to Whittington Castle.

A view from the bridge that leads to the entrance to the castle and back through this tiny village to the St John the Baptist Church and (perhaps more importantly) the local pub called “Ye Olde Boote Inn”.

Picture book Whittington Castle, the two towers of it’s entrance or Gatehouse and a gently rolling moat.

The choice is yours: A quick drink or a quick chat with the Big Guy upstairs?

(1) Four images of the central ruins of Whittington Castle and what I believe to be a tower similar to the two restored at its Gatehouse entrance. According to varying resources, there could have been as many as five towers in total.

(2) Four images of the central ruins of Whittington Castle and what I believe to be a tower similar to the two restored at its Gatehouse entrance. According to varying resources, there could have been as many as five towers in total.

(3) Four images of the central ruins of Whittington Castle and what I believe to be a tower similar to the two restored at its Gatehouse entrance. According to varying resources, there could have been as many as five towers in total.

(4) Four images of the central ruins of Whittington Castle and what I believe to be a tower similar to the two restored at its Gatehouse entrance. According to varying resources, there could have been as many as five towers in total.

One of a number of highly pleasing images captured on this beautiful afternoon.

See above comments!

View from the rear of the elevated courtyard.

“Life finds a way”.

(1) Three final images of the castle ruins demonstrating the elevation of the castle mound, the small surrounding garden and the picture book pleasing moat.

(2) Three final images of the castle ruins demonstrating the elevation of the castle mound, the small surrounding garden and the picture book pleasing moat.

(3) Three final images of the castle ruins demonstrating the elevation of the castle mound, the small surrounding garden and the picture book pleasing moat.

A final look back at the surrounding environs of beautiful Whittington Castle and a firm recommendation to treat yourself to a trip back into history sometime.

Your humble narrator the day before the day after, visiting yet more English history at Ironbridge Gorge, Shropshire, 4th August 2022.

Thanks for reading. For a plethora of travel articles traversing the canal waterways or more recent visits to the castles and their ruins in Shropshire or across the border in Wales, please see my bulging archives. Alternatively, the three most recently published articles within this particular series are linked below:

The medieval ruins of Clun Castle
A walk in the sunshine along the English/Welsh bordermedium.com

A stroll in the Welsh sunshine
Welshpool to Berriew via Powis Castlemedium.com

Chirk to St Martin’s
via Charles Darwin and Shrewsbury Castlemedium.com