Roch Castle
Encyclopedia
Roch
Castle is a 13th century castle
, located near Haverfordwest
, Wales
.
Built by Norman
knight
Adam de Rupe in the second half of the 12th century, probably on the site of an earlier wooden structure. Roche is the usual French word for ‘Rock’, while rupestre signifies ‘a plant growing among rocks’.
Built at the same time as Pill Priory near Milford Haven
, Roch Castle was probably built in this location as one of the outer defences of "Little England" or "Landsker"
, as it is located near the unmarked border for which centuries has separated the English and Welsh areas of Pembrokeshire
.
After the deRupe family died out in the 15th century, the Castle was taken over eventually in the 17th century by the Walter family. Their daughter Lucy
was born in the castle, and later became a courtesan of Charles II
, and bore him an acknowledged son James
, the first Duke of Monmouth.
During the English Civil War
, the Walter family declared for King Charles I
. Although Pembrokeshire was initially Royalist
, the Puritans gained the upper hand. The castle changed hands twice, before the Walter family fled when it was captured for a second time by the Parliamentary forces
and subsequently burned in 1644. It lay dormant and unclaimed until the return of James, who led and was captured at the Battle of Sedgemoor
, and then beheaded on Tower Hill
during the Bloody Assizes
.
The castle remained decaying until 1900, when purchased by John Philipps, 1st Viscount St Davids
, who restored it with a steel frame and new concrete floors to the designs of D.E. Thomas of Haverfordwest. Further works were carried out in 1910 and circa 1918-20, the latter by D.F. Ingleton.
The Castle was purcahsed in 2008 by the Griffiths-Roch Foundation who are presently restoring it for operation by the Retreats Group as a corporate retreat.
Nolton and Roch
Nolton and Roch is a community in the Hundred of Roose, Pembrokeshire, Wales. The community consists essentially of the parishes of Nolton and Roch. The western part of the community is in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park. Its population was 746....
Castle is a 13th century castle
Castle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
, located near Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest
Haverfordwest is the county town of Pembrokeshire, Wales and serves as the County's principal commercial and administrative centre. Haverfordwest is the most populous urban area in Pembrokeshire, with a population of 13,367 in 2001; though its community boundaries make it the second most populous...
, Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
.
Built by Norman
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
Adam de Rupe in the second half of the 12th century, probably on the site of an earlier wooden structure. Roche is the usual French word for ‘Rock’, while rupestre signifies ‘a plant growing among rocks’.
Built at the same time as Pill Priory near Milford Haven
Milford Haven
Milford Haven is a town and community in Pembrokeshire, Wales. It is situated on the north side of the Milford Haven Waterway, a natural harbour used as a port since the Middle Ages. The town was founded in 1790 on the north side of the Waterway, from which it takes its name...
, Roch Castle was probably built in this location as one of the outer defences of "Little England" or "Landsker"
Little England beyond Wales
Little England beyond Wales is a name applied to an area of southern Pembrokeshire and southwestern Carmarthenshire in Wales, which has been English in language and culture for many centuries despite its remoteness from the English border...
, as it is located near the unmarked border for which centuries has separated the English and Welsh areas of Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
.
After the deRupe family died out in the 15th century, the Castle was taken over eventually in the 17th century by the Walter family. Their daughter Lucy
Lucy Walter
Lucy Walter or Lucy Barlow was a mistress of King Charles II of England and mother of James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth. She is believed to have been born in 1630 or a little later at Roch Castle near Haverfordwest, Wales into a family of middling gentry...
was born in the castle, and later became a courtesan of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
, and bore him an acknowledged son James
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth
James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth, 1st Duke of Buccleuch, KG, PC , was an English nobleman. Originally called James Crofts or James Fitzroy, he was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands, the eldest illegitimate son of Charles II and his mistress, Lucy Walter...
, the first Duke of Monmouth.
During the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, the Walter family declared for King Charles I
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
. Although Pembrokeshire was initially Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
, the Puritans gained the upper hand. The castle changed hands twice, before the Walter family fled when it was captured for a second time by the Parliamentary forces
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
and subsequently burned in 1644. It lay dormant and unclaimed until the return of James, who led and was captured at the Battle of Sedgemoor
Battle of Sedgemoor
The Battle of Sedgemoor was fought on 6 July 1685 and took place at Westonzoyland near Bridgwater in Somerset, England.It was the final battle of the Monmouth Rebellion and followed a series of skirmishes around south west England between the forces of James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth and the...
, and then beheaded on Tower Hill
Tower Hill
Tower Hill is an elevated spot northwest of the Tower of London, just outside the limits of the City of London, in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Formerly it was part of the Tower Liberty under the direct administrative control of Tower...
during the Bloody Assizes
Bloody Assizes
The Bloody Assizes were a series of trials started at Winchester on 25 August 1685 in the aftermath of the Battle of Sedgemoor, which ended the Monmouth Rebellion in England....
.
The castle remained decaying until 1900, when purchased by John Philipps, 1st Viscount St Davids
John Philipps, 1st Viscount St Davids
John Wynford Philipps, 1st Viscount St Davids PC was a British peer and former Liberal Member of Parliament for Mid Lanarkshire 1888–1894 and Pembrokeshire 1898–1908. He was educated at Felsted School....
, who restored it with a steel frame and new concrete floors to the designs of D.E. Thomas of Haverfordwest. Further works were carried out in 1910 and circa 1918-20, the latter by D.F. Ingleton.
The Castle was purcahsed in 2008 by the Griffiths-Roch Foundation who are presently restoring it for operation by the Retreats Group as a corporate retreat.