Kilpeck Castle, Kilpeck, Herefordshire
The castle is thought to have been built around 1090. In 1134 the castle is mentioned when Hugh de Kilpeck gave its revenues to the newly founded Kilpeck priory. King John was entertained in the castle in 1211, 1212 and 1214. This suggests that the castle had fairly luxurious accommodation at this time. By 1273 the castle had passed to Alan de Plugenet who owned huge estates in Hereforshire and had been at the Battle of Evesham in 1265. In 1325 it passed to Edward de Bohun and was valued at £62 0s 6d – a considerable sum. Edward granted Kilpeck to his brother-in-law, James Butler, Earl of Ormond. As the Earls of Ormond lived outside of the county the castle began to decay. The value had dropped by two thirds when the Earl of Ormond died in 1338. It remained with the Butlers until the 5th Earl was beheaded in March 1467. By the time of the Civil War it was pretty much in ruins, but it was still garrisoned, although never actually attacked. After this time it passed to the Pyes of Saddlebow and the Mynde.
