Bishops Moat

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Castell Hithoet; Castlewright; Castel Wrygh; Castell Vrych; Castle Wrighe; Castell Wrich; Castel Wrigge; Castell Ruht; Castell Rhudd

In the community of Churchstoke.
In the historic county of Montgomeryshire (Modern authority of Powys, preserved county of Powys).

Stands at a height of 340m overlooking the Powys/Shropshire border. Bishop's Moat is a 6m high motte, 13m across it's top; the motte stands on the west side of a 100m x 65m bailey. The site was founded by the Bishop of Hereford around 1120, and may have been captured by Llywelyn ab Iorwerth in 1233 (the referred to site being named Castell Hitheot -This site is really unidentified see King, Castellarium Anglicanam p559-560 for full discussion). The castle was in Mainstone parish a parish partly in the hundred of Clun, county Salop, and partly in the hundred and county of Montgomery. As far as I can tell it has always been in Wales but because of the peculiar nature of the parish it has often being placed in England.

This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Earthworks remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO29108962

Modern Map from

Good for landscape form and features

Modern Map from

Good for general location

Air Photo from

1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

National Monuments Record number; 306400

County Sites and Monuments Record number; 237

Web site links
- http://www.castlewales.com/bishops.html
Books
- Salter, Mike, 2001, The Castles of Mid Wales (Malvern) p36
  Salter, Mike, 2001 (2edn), The Castles and Moated Mansions of Shropshire (Malvern) [mislocated in Shropshire]
  Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) [mislocated in Shropshire]
  Higham, R. and Barker, P., 1992, Timber Castles (Batsford) p202, 214-5
  Jackson, M. J.,1988, Castles of Shropshire (Shrewsbury: Shropshire Libraries) [mislocated in Shropshire]
  King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p295
  RCAHMW, 1911, An Inventory of Ancient Monuments in Montgomeryshire (HMSO) p20 No101
Journal Articles
- Spurgeon, C.J., 1966, ‘The castles of Montgomeryshire’ Montgomeryshire Collections Vol58 p29-30
  Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol112 p77-124

Most of the sites or buildings recorded in this web site are NOT open to the public and permission to visit a site must always be sought from the landowner or tenant

The information on this web page may be derived from information compiled by and/or copyright of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historic Monuments of Wales, the four welsh archaeological trusts and other indivduals and organisations.

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This record last updated on Saturday, January 20, 2007

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