Snodhill Castle, in the Golden Valley of Herefordshire, 6 miles to the South east of Hay-on-Wye sits on a ridge top between the villages of Dorstone and Peterchurch. For many years the site was unkempt and very overgrown and as a consequence, largely forgotten.
Over the last decade the site has been transformed by the Snodhill Castle Preservation Trust into one of the principle historic visitor attractions within the Golden Valley.

Recent research and training excavations have led to the discovery of a number of features which indicate that the castle was of far more importance than the scant documentary evidence would suggest and that it contained elements hitherto unseen in any other Marcher castle. Excavations have revealed that Snodhill Castle was greatly re-fortified as a result of the Glyndwr uprising, with the construction of a massive North Tower, a defensive Barbican and a double postern gate. In addition to these remarkable features, the site of the Royal Free Chapel has been located and excavated. A Royal Free Chapel is granted by the monarch and is not under control of the Church. Snodhill Castle is the only non-royal castle to have a Royal Free Chapel making it unique.

The talk will bring together the history and development of the castle and will include the latest archaeological findings which were recently part of the current series of Digging For Britain.

Speaker biography

Tim is the Archaeological Projects Manager for Herefordshire Council and has worked in Herefordshire and the surrounding area, (including Wales) since 1986. As such he is involved in a number of community led projects, Scheduled Ancient Monument conservation works, and training / research excavations in partnership with the universities of Manchester and Cardiff.

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