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CroftCastle-byTabbipix-Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Amazing Facts about Croft Castle

Croft Castle and parkland is a National Trust property comprising of a country house, park, church, and garden in Croft, Herefordshire, England.

The site is in the civil parish of Croft and Yarpole,5d and miles north-west of Leominster, in Herefordshire England which is surrounded by 1500 acres of woodland, farmland, and parkland.

Croft has been the home of the Croft family and croft baronets. In the 15th century, the Croft family adopted the welsh wyvern crest, a wounded black dragon seen as a reference to their Glyndwr heritage.

The first member of the Croft family to own the estate was Bernard de Croft who is mentioned in the Domesday Book.

In 1746, the Croft family sold the estate to Richard Knight. Thomas Johnes, Richard Knights’ son-in-law remodeled the castle in the 1760s and in 1799.

It was put up for sale which was bought by Somerset Davies and his descendants sold it back to the Croft family in 1923.

The National Trust took over in the 1960s and the castle was opened to the public. The house is still occupied by members of the Croft family.

Here are 10 amazing facts about Croft Castle.

1. Croft Castle’s attractive garden and parkland

Croft Castle Garden-by David Merrett-Wikimedia Commons

The castle has a 3-acre walled garden and a Georgian stable block with an avenue of Spanish chestnut trees that were planted over 400 years ago. It also has Beech and oak trees line the main drive.

The castle also has a fish-pool valley that was landscaped in the 18th century with descending ponds, a gothic, a gothic pump-house, an ice house, and a lime kiln.

It has undergone major restoration to bring it back to its scenic origins. The parkland includes an Iron Age Hill fort known as Croft Ambrey.

2. Croft has a chapel The Medieval Church of All Angels

The Chapel Croft Castle-by David Merrett-

CroftCastleandChurch-Prichardson-

The croft church dates back to around the 18th century. The medieval church of St Michael and All Angels stands within the grounds of Croft Castle.

It was constructed around the 13th century and later added a 17th-century clock tower and interior gallery as well as a set of box pews and some medieval floor tiles made at Malvern.

The chapel roof was rebuilt in the late 17th-century when it was painted with clouds and gilded stars and at the same time painted and carved Angel’s heads were added to the roof beams.

It has an impressive monument of Sir Richard Croft.

3. Croft was built by Sir Herbert Croft

The present building dates from the 1660s during the time when Herbert Croft was Bishop of Hereford, replacing an earlier house some 30 yards to the west.

It was excavated by Herefordshire county archaeologist Prof.

Keith Ray and volunteers in 2002. The manor house is a quadrangular stone structure with some stone mullion windows on all elevations.

The castle is one of the 1st examples of medieval revival.

4. The castle was the home of the Crofts family for nearly 1000years 

The Croft family was recorded by living in the structure in the Domesday Book. It was the home of John Croft.

The family suffered financial problems before selling the estate to Richard Knight and having been owned by several other families the Croft family repurchased it back.

The castle is now under the care of the National Trust and members of the Croft family still live within.

5. It is under the care of the National Trust

The castle was to have been demolished in the 1950s but it was saved by Diana Uhlman(born Croft).

In 1957, an insurance company wanted to buy the land at Croft where the Croft family began negotiations with the National Trust.

6. It was listed Grade I by Historic England

The castle was Grade I listed by Historic England on 8 November 1956. After slighting in the civil war the castle was rebuilt and extended with a north wing.

Diana Uhlman worked with her brother when she founded the Croft Trust in 1960 to assist the castle which has bought paintings including one by John Constable.

That was lent to the National Trust for display in the castle. 

7. The castle was owned by several families

Croft has been a home for the Croft family since the 11th century who suffered financially in 1746 and sold the estate to Richard Knight.

Richard had a sole daughter who married Thomas Jones. Thomas remodeled the castle in the Rococo-Gothic style to the designs of the Shrewbury architect.

In 1799 Thomas put the castle on sale and was bought by Somerset Davies whose descendants sold the Croft back to Katherine, Lady Croft in 1923.

Croft daily suffered financially and handed the land to the care of the National Trust since the 1960s.

8. The castles park consists of a Hill Fort

Ambrey the Iron Age Hill Fort is one of the most elaborate hill forts in the Welsh Marches. It was built around 500BC by Celtic grain farmers who farmed the landscape below.

By the time of the Roman invasion in the 1st century AD, the fort had already been abandoned .

Although the myth has it that the site was used by supporters of the rebel Celtic leader ‘caractacus’ much of its earthwork is still intact to date.

9. The castle was threatened with demolition in 1957

In 1957, Croft was threatened with demolition following the destruction of 18 other great houses in the country.

The destruction of country houses in 20th century  Britain was gathering pace across the country and continued through the 1960s.

Members of Croft’s family had negotiations with the National Trust to prevent the castle from suffering the same fate.

10. Croft Castle is a tourist attraction center

Croft Castle 2015-by Mike Peel-

Croft has over 1500 acres of surrounding farm, park, and woodland to explore. The walled garden is also great for exploring and comes with bee hives.

Historic orchards, some rear ancient trees, a vineyard, the Georgian stable block, and a mid-restoration glass house.

Into the parkland, you will find an Iron Age Hill Fort with terrific views across the Brecon beacons, the st. Michaels and all Angels church are also very pleasant to peek around.

The castle offers a solid and regular program of oriented activities and events during school holidays and Christmas.

Croft Castle is a lovely late 16th or early 17th century stately home built on a 14th-century medieval castle and a monumental site in the heart of Herefordshire comprising of a country house, park, church, and garden.