Urishay Castle, Peterchurch

In the civil parish of Peterchurch. In the historic county of Herefordshire (Modern Authority of Herefordshire, 1974 county of Hereford and Worcester).

Late C11/early C12 ruined chapel and C17 or C18 house on the site of a castle mound and associated bailey. The latter has largely disappeared. The earthwork remains of the Motte and part of the bailey were mapped from aerial photographs. The mound is about 52yds in diameter at the base and is surrounded by a ditch.
Phillips writes 'The site would appear to be a fortified-site, however, having glimpsed the shape of the mound from a distance it is not possible to dismiss the idea that it may have been a motte.' The presence of the relatively early chapel does suggest the site did start as a motte and Phillips may well be over cautious.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SO32303756

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 105825
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 598 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

• Web site links
  • http://www.smr.herefordshire.gov.uk/db.php?smr_no=598
• Books
  • Prior, Stuart, 2006, A Few Well-Positioned Castles: The Norman Art of War (Tempus) p110-164
    Phillips, Neil, 2005, Earthwork Castles of Gwent and Ergyng AD 1050-1250 (University of Wales) [downloadable via http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/resources.html?phillips_phd_2005] p345-6
    Emery, Anthony, 2000, Greater Medieval Houses Vol2 (Cambridge) p476
    Salter, Mike, 2000, Castles of Herefordshire and Worcestershire (Malvern) p65
    Shoesmith, Ron, 1996, Castles and Moated Sites of Herefordshire (Logaston Press)
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p211
    Pevsner, N., 1963, The Buildings of England: Herefordshire (Harmondsworth)
    RCHME, 1931, An inventory of the historical monuments in Herefordshire. Vol1: south-west p211, 213-4
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Chalkley Gould, 1908, in Page, Wm (ed), VCH Hereford Vol1 p254-5
    Robinson, Rev C.J., 1867, The Castles of Herefordshire and Their Lords (Logaston Press, 2002 reprint) p130
• Journal Articles
  • Shoesmith, R., 1987, 'Urishay Chapel' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club Vol45.3 p720
    Tonkin, J.W., 1982, 'Herefordshire Castles' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club Vol44.1 p31-35 (esp 34)
    Shoesmith, R., 1979, 'Archaeology 1979, Report of Sectional Recorder' Transactions of the Woolhope Naturalists’ Field Club Vol43.1 p69-70, 72
    1967, Herefordshire Archaeological News Vol2 p1
    Hogg, A.H.A. and King, D.J.C., 1963, 'Early castles in Wales and the Marches: a preliminary list' Archaeologia Cambrensis Vol112 p77-124