Tuesday 22nd August 2023
Just this past weekend (Aug. 20th), John Chance and myself traveled across into the Welsh Marches to take a look-see at a couple of historic, ‘haunted’ locations…
The ruin of Hopton Castle stands just on the Shropshire side of the English / Welsh border and probably started life as a ‘motte and bailey’ style fortification. Situated in a rather remote – yet stunningly beautiful – location, the remaining tower structure. It is estimated, dates from the 12th century.
The ghostlore associated with this spot hails from some 500 or so years later, however, and concerns probably the most turbulent and bloody event in the entire history of the locality.
During the English Civil War period, this was one of the few castles in the region that fell under the Parliamentarian banner. Being only a relatively small position, there was a mere handful of troops et to defend the site.
In 1644, some 500 Royalist troops laid siege to the building, but, despite such overwhelming odds, actually taking over the structure proved quite impossible. There followed a siege of a few weeks duration, during which time Hopton Castle received reinforcements, bringing the number of defenders up to 30 or so men. After further, bloody fighting – during which time the garrison ignored calls to surrender and potentially killed 200 of the Royalist troops in the process – the conflict finally reached a point where the defenders basically ‘knew that their time was up’. The castle door was set on fire and the walls themselves were being undermined, so the castle commander let it be known that they were ready to eventually ‘give in’...
What followed next seems to have 101 different versions, but it is accepted as fact only the commanding officer of the garrison was allowed to leave the site alive! Details of ‘how’ the tired defenders met their demise differ from telling to telling, but they were all seemingly executed and their remains disposed of on site.
Most accounts seem to indicate that the men were tied up and thrown into a water-filled depression – the moat or a nearby pond – being viciously ‘cut down’ as they tried to climb out… Other stories tell of how their hands were severed from their bodies and their throats slit, before being deposited in nearby murky waters. Another version relates how they were all placed inside the half-water-filled cellars of the castle itself, or a nearby, substantial building… and the structure burned with them trapped below. (There were a number of structures around Hopton Castle tower itself at this point in history, including a large house. The cellar of the latter was partially unearthed – though no bodies discovered – during a visit from the archaeological TV programme ‘Time Team’ in 2010).
It goes without saying that, if great tragedy or horrific occurrences were an inspiration for the ‘creation of a ghost’ (somehow?), then the aforementioned incidents were surely horrendous enough to summon up some kind of lasting impression here? Whatever… it is the ghosts of the murdered defenders who are said to be seen solemnly filing out of the tower… heads bowed… before turning left and simply ‘fading away’ at the point where they presumably died?
A second ghost at the site is said to be that of a young woman, spotted over near the pond at the rear of the locality. She is thought to be the apparition of one Elizabeth Mayrick, the betrothed of one of the unfortunate defenders. When news of the massacre initially spread, she travelled to the spot to find her bellowed. Locals took her to the pond, where the body of her love was left and she was said to have spent days here, weeping, before finally dying of a broken heart…
Not far from Hopton Castle stands the rural town of Clun, which lies in the shadow of a once imposing fortress! Sadly, very little remains of Clun Castle today, but visitors to the site can still see what an enormous, formidable structure the stronghold once was, in its heyday! It does take a little, determined, climbing to reach the visible ruins – set atop their lofty hill – but, believe me, the resulting views of the surrounding countryside is WELL worth a little sweat and effort, I assure you!
It should be mentioned that, while this was my first visit to the area, I had long wished to take a look at the location after first hearing of Clun Castle in an episode of the ‘Robin Of Sherwood’ TV series, back in the 1980’s. Details are a touch hazy after all of these years, but I believe the site was the base for the ‘baddies’ in that particular episode, who were topped off with the legendary Richard O’ Brien (of ‘Rocky Horror Show’ fame), playing the part of an evil wizard / magician!
Built by the late 11th Century, the castle is recorded as already being in a ‘ruinous state’ by the middle-half of the 16th Cent. A prosperous location and locality during the 1200’s – under the control of the Fitzalan family – the subsequent abandonment by the line, as their key family dwelling, ensured that the role of Clun Castle was somewhat reduced, until, in the 1300’s, it was mainly used as a ‘hunting lodge’...
Unfortunately, there doesn’t really seem to be any ghostlore or spooky legends attached to the castle… though one ‘ghost group’ has ‘investigated’ it, in recent years, it seems? (The investigation of properties with no ghost to speak of has seemingly become quite popular, mainly because the over-population of the field concerned forces people to go increasingly further afield to find new places to look into… including ‘non-haunted’ sites, it appears!) In the blurb on their related, Youtube video, there is a small mention of the ‘ghosts of knights’ - or some such bumf – being seen here, but an extensive search of extensive bookshelves… and a quick dig on Google… turns up absolutely zilch on the location!
My friend John Chance told me that he visited Clun Castle around 10 years ago now and, upon crossing the footbridge to the site, spotted the figure of a girl at the side of the river. He said that she seemed to be engaged in some form of toil – washing, perhaps – and was dressed in Medieval-type garb… with leather, skull-cap-style headwear and matching smock..!?
Later, within the remaining section of Keep, he had moved out across a walkway / viewing platform – which ran from the top of the hillock to a particular window in the ruin itself – when he had heard the sound of male voices coming from somewhere below him…? What they were saying couldn’t be made out, but a distinct sound of ‘men mumbling to one another’ was heard… from somewhere underneath where he stood?
As always – my THANKS go out to John Chance, for including me in yet another of his legendary rambles! Another fantastic day out, in equally fantastic company!
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