 The castle was built on a summit of rock high above
the River Wye. A pale red sandstone keep was constructed in the middle of the 12th
century.
Today the keep
is 60 feet tall but it was originally much higher and would
probably have had with battlements.
During the latter part of the 13th century
the owners, the de Valence family, transformed the simple tower into a great
stronghold. Four immense walls were built around the keep and at three corners they
built cylindrical towers with square bases. On the fourth corner a great gatehouse
was constructed. This led out to a semi-circular barbican which was designed to
force any attackers to make a right-angled turn to reach the gateway leaving them
vulnerable to the missiles and arrows of the defenders. The castle was also provided
with drawbridges, great doors and portcullises well supplied with loops for the castle's
bowmen.
Built on sturdy bedrock and surrounded by a
deep moat the castle was very well defended.
A chapel was built in the gatehouse and
inside the walls domestic buildings were constructed including a large hall, solar and
kitchens.
These buildings are well preserved.
Although domestic buildings were included the castle was primarily designed as
fortress. |
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Goodrich
Castle
