Detailed History Of Burford Barony And Richards Castle And Their Fitz Scrope, Say And Mortimer Lords To 1219 With A Brief Resume Up To 1446 From Original Documentation. History Concluded In The Nine Castles Of Burford Barony (ISBN 1-899376-62-3). Detailed Description Of The Castle Ruins And Their Date. 16 Black And White Photos, 3 Maps, 2 Plans And 2 Genealogical Tables Of The Barons Of Richards Castle And The Says. Overview; Looks at the foundation of what may be the oldest castle in Britain. The history of the castle is taken up to its abandonment in the fifteenth century. The detailed history of the castle is concluded in The Nine Castles of Burford Barony, 1048 to 1438. History; Covers the foundation and development of this castlery in the pre-Norman period. Particular emphasis is placed upon the wars of the Anarchy of King Stephen when an unusual division of the lordship seems to have been made by Osbern Fitz Hugh, the defeated lord of the barony. As a result, after his death, the castle passed to Hugh Say his brother-in-law, who also appears to have taken over the Scrope arms.

From Hugh the castle passed to his son, Hugh, who was defeated and probably killed at the great battle of Radnor in 1196. The castle then passed rapidly to each of the three husbands of Hugh's daughter, the last of whom was Robert Mortimer of Essex. Genealogy; The family history of Richard Fitz Scrope from 1048 is taken through the many shifts and changes of political fortune to the death of its first Mortimer lord in 1219. Archaeology; The motte and bailey castle with its overlying stonework remains are examined thoroughly in relation to the excavations carried out in the 1960's and a new chronology for the site is suggested. The castle consists of a polygonal tower keep, a great tower, early gatehouse and several mural towers. The borough and church attached to the castle are also investigated.