Goodrich Castle

Goodrich Castle stands sentinel over the River Wye in its most picturesque reaches.

The ruins date from the 13th Century, though there was a castle on the site 200 years earlier. Goodrich's commanding situation made it a focal point for many Borderland clashes, but the castle's downfall came during the English Civil War.

Though nearby Hereford had fallen, Goodrich was still held by Sir Henry Lingen, loyal Royalist. As one of Charles I's last redoubts in the Marches, the castle was keenly prized by the Roundhead forces. Under the command of John Birch, they advanced on the castle armed with their secret weapon - Roaring Meg.

Meg was a cannon the like of which had never been seen before. Capable of firing a 200lb shot, she was the most fearsome piece of armoury ever deployed in the region. Faced with this, Lingen's forces had no chance - but they resolved to go down fighting. By the end of the six-week siege, the castle walls had been blown apart and the once-mighty fort reduced to the state we see today.

Goodrich's rural location has saved it from further depradations, and the ruins - now under the care of English Heritage - remain well-preserved and a fascinating glimpse back into the age of warfare.

View more pictures of Ross-on-Wye and the Wye Valley.

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