Bronsil Castle Bridge And Moat

EASTNOR CP - SO 73 NW SO 749372

4/101 Bronsil Castle, bridge and moat

6.3.67 - II*

Ruins of castle with bridge and moat. Substantially mid-C15, incorporating earlier structure with bridge, possibly late C19. For Richard Beauchamp. Sandstone ashlar. Square plan with polygonal gatehouse tower to west side surrounded by moat crossed by bridge from west. North gatehouse tower which is the only large upstanding part to remain, was probably of two storeys and basement; two faces remain to west and south-west up to a height of about 30 feet in two stages, with part of third stage, divided by two moulded strings; right-hand face has circular drain hole into moat near its base and damaged opening above; two almost intact loops in the second stage, one low on the right-hand face, the other high up in the left-hand face. At the north-east corner of the enclosure is part of a stone newel in masonry fragment about ten feet high; at the south-east corner is another fragment about five feet high. The former enclosure is reached from the west by a single segmental span bridge heavily overgrown (at the time of survey, June 1985). Moat completely surrounds the castle, the base of the curtain walls of which are said to be visible if the water level is low. When com- plete the castle consisted of the square enclosure with curtain walls, octagonal angle towers, gatehouse with flanking towers to the west, towers in the middle of the other sides, moat, outer bank and perhaps an outer ditch. Scheduled Ancient Monument, County Number 62 (RCHM, Vol II, p 74).

Listing NGR: SO7496937179