KNIGHTON

What is believed to be the earliest castle site is on the top of a hill above the centre of the town. A bailey originally lay between it and the steep hillside down to the Wylcwm Brook. This motte is 4m high and there is walling of uncertain date or purpose. It was probably built by Hugh L'asne, in the late 11th century. Hugh died around 1104 and was heirless so it seems that this castle was passed to the Chandos family, who rebelled against Henry II in the latter part of the 12th century. As a result they lost this castle and another at Norton and the king passed them to the Mortimers of Wigmore.
The site is mentioned in the Pipe Rolls of 1182 and again in connection with building work by William Braose in 1191-2, he'd come into the picture initially on behalf of the Crown after another set of troubles between Roger Mortimer and the the King which had resulted in Mortimer's exile for 2 years. Following this it was garrisoned by Hugh Say of Richards Castle and Walter Clifford who was based around Hay on Wye. By 1194 they were back with Braose and Mortimer returned from his estates in Normandy, doubtless harbouring ideas to regain Knighton and Norton Castles. Finally in 1207 King John demanded both castles to be returned to the Crown and promptly put them in the guardianship of Mortimer, however in the same year he demanded that Mortimer pass them to Robert Sineford who was bailiff to Thomas Erdington, Sheriff of Shropshire. In 1208 William Braose attacked both Knighton and Norton in an attempt to get them back, but failed and they stayed with Erdington until 1215 when Llewelyn ab Ioworth with a Welsh army plus the remains of the Braose supporters stormed and destroyed them. At this point another Mortimer, Hugh, made a deal with Erdington and got the castles in return for other land in Hampshire. Hugh's brother Ralph married Llewelyns daughter and Llewelyn confirmed Mortimer ownership of Knighton and Norton as part of her dowry. Ralph rebuilt both castles this time in stone. Despite this the town and castle fell to rebel Welsh in 1260 and again in 1262 when both Knighton and Norton were destroyed by Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. The castle at Knighton must have been repaired or rebuilt sometime afterwards as it is again mentioned in 1402 when Edmund Mortimer sent 400 men from Ludlow to defend it against Owain Glyndwrs revolt.
Bryn-y-Castell is beleived to be the later of the two castle sites in Knighton. It is to be found to the rear of the playing fields. The motte is hidden in bushes and trees. It rises 2.5 m above a ditch 1m deep and at the summit it is 18m in diameter. It was probably erected after 1215 as a response to the siezure of Knighton by the Welsh under Llewelyn ab Ioworth. It is known that after that Welsh attack various Marcher Lords had empowered Brian Brampton of Brampton Bryan to defend the Teme valley from further Welsh incursions and thus it is possibly part of a chain of castles guarding the valley. It was probably abandoned after 1231 when Ralph Mortimer had regained control of Knighton and had begun rebuilding its defences.