More information : (SJ 39452215) Castle (NR) (Remains of) (NAT). (1)
A castle at Ruyton was almost certainly built in the reign of King Stephen before 1148. It was destroyed by the Welsh in 1212 and perhaps not rebuilt until Edmund Earl of Arundel, bought it in 1302. It must have been defensible by 1313 and was in repair in 1357. It is last mentioned in 1364 and probably fell into ruin soon afterwards. Materials from it may have been used to repair the church. Three walls of the stone keep remain, with parts of the hall storey, and the bailey can be traced in the foundations of the churchyard wall. The foundations were excavated shortly before 1886 by the Vicar who uncovered the remains of walls 14 to 16 feet wide. (2-5)
The fragmentary remains of the keep stand up to 4.0m high. The churchyard wall, which encircles the top of a low hill, probably indicates the extent of the bailey. Published survey 25" revised. (6)
SJ 394 221. Castle (remains of). Scheduled. (7)
Listed by Cathcart King. (8)
SJ 39452215. Tower keep castle. Scheduling amended. (9)
Short note on the 1896 excavations, which were reported in the Ellesmere Rurideanical Parish Papers. (10) |