Moreton Corbet Castle

Moreton Corbet Castle

A castle, now ruined, dating from around 1200 with 14th-century additions, altered and enlarged in the mid and late 16th century (dated 1576 and 1578) for Sir Andrew Corbet (died 1579) and Robert Corbet (died 1583). The structure is built in red and yellow/grey sandstone, using dressed stone and ashlar throughout. The plan is roughly triangular.

The Keep, dating to around 1200, stands to the south-west and has a square plan with three storeys. It features a chamfered plinth and set-back pilaster buttresses that return to square at top and bottom. A large first-floor fireplace survives with the remains of a hood and octagonal shafts topped with stiff-leaf capitals.

The Curtain Wall runs between the keep and gatehouse, with a chamfered plinth and bastions spaced at intervals.

The Gatehouse is two storeys and has a chamfered plinth. A central continuously chamfered archway opens to the entrance, above which is the remains of a 16th-century first-floor window. First-floor side windows are chamfered rectangles. The gatehouse is decorated with a carved elephant and castle, and a datestone reading "S A C / 1579" above the entrance.

The East Range, originally of 12th-century date, was altered in the 1560s with the insertion of 16th-century windows and fireplaces.

The South Range, dated 1578, forms an L-plan with two storeys and an attic, divided into 1:3:1:3:1 bays. It has a moulded plinth and applied orders: Doric to the ground floor and Ionic to the first floor, with carved pedestals bearing beasts at the corners and full entablatures (the Doric entablature carved with devices). A parapet runs above, decorated with shell lunettes and obelisks with figures, now mostly destroyed. The windows are 3-light stone mullioned and transomed. Projecting bays contain 5-light mullioned and transomed windows beneath shaped gables with triangular-pedimented 3-light windows. Small doorways in the second and seventh bays have doorcases consisting of small caryatids with Ionic capitals supporting entablatures with uncarved medallions. A 2-bay return front runs along the left-hand side. The rear wing has been largely demolished. Interior fireplaces include one with a moulded surround, cornice and chamfered rustication to the right, with brick-lined walls.

The architect of the south range is unknown, though it may have been Robert Corbet himself, who travelled throughout Europe on diplomatic missions visiting Italy, France and the Low Countries. The range was unfinished at Robert Corbet's death in 1583. It was set on fire by Parliamentarian forces during the Civil War, but a drawing records the date 1667 on one of the stacks, suggesting building work continued afterwards. John H. Haycock prepared designs for the house's rebuilding in 1796, but these were never executed.

County Ancient Monument No. 137.