10 historic castles of Shropshire: See 30 pictures of the county's castles, including one with links to the legendary Robin Hood

From the ruins of Clun Castle sitting high on a rocky mound in a loop of the River Clun, the enchanting hidden gem of Whittington Castle, to one of the finest medieval ruins in England, Ludlow Castle, all make for a great day out.

Let's take a look... 

1. Acton Burnell Castle

Tucked away in a quiet part of Shropshire is the graceful red sandstone shell of Acton Burnell Castle. It was built between 1284 and 1293 by Bishop Burnell, Edward I's Lord Chancellor, and Parliaments were held here twice, in 1283 and 1285.

By 1420, the castle was abandoned, and it was allowed to decay while a new house, Acton Burnell Hall, was built beside it. Nonetheless, the castle remains an impressive example of a medieval fortified manor house.

2. Bridgnorth Castle

The castle grounds were donated to Bridgnorth by Major Foster in 1956 for the benefit of the town. The castle keep is the only remaining part of the fortress built by a Danish army in 896. The grounds form pleasure gardens surrounding a bandstand, with the town war memorial strategically placed overlooking Panpudding Hill from which Henry 1 besieged the castle in 1102 and from where later Parliamentary forces destroyed the town in the Civil War.

3. Clun Castle

The dramatic riverside ruins and extensive earthworks of this Welsh border castle sit high on a rocky mound on the edge of the small, picturesque town of the same name.

Unusually, the castle's tall, 13th-century keep is set on the side of its mound. Founded shortly after the Norman Conquest, the castle and nearby settlement prospered until the early 15th century, when followers of the Welsh chieftain Owain Glyn Dwr devastated the surrounding area.

4. Hopton Castle

This romantic ruin is all that is left of the medieval Hopton Castle, besieged in a notorious battle of the English Civil War. In 2006, after years of effort, the Hopton Castle Preservation Trust secured more than £1 million from Heritage Lottery fund and other sources which has allowed the castle and its surroundings to be purchased and repaired and access to be provided for visitors.

5. Ludlow Castle

One of the finest medieval ruins in England. Set in the glorious bustling market town of Ludlow, the castle has superb views over the Shropshire countryside. Walk through the castle grounds and explore the ancient lodgings of kings, queens, princes, judges and the nobility: a glimpse into the lifestyle of medieval and Tudor society.

6. Moreton Corbet Castle

The impressive ruins of Moreton Corbet Castle are the product of more than 500 years of building. The earliest surviving remains are those of a stone castle begun in about 1200, including a fine gatehouse. The Corbet family remodelled the castle in the 16th century, and the Elizabethan south wing is a rare survival from this period of a bold Italian-inspired design, which was devastated during the Civil War. Fine Corbet monuments fill the adjacent church.

7. Oswestry Castle

Oswestry Castle was probably built in 1148 by Madoc ap Meredyth. It is on the site of an earlier castle by Alan Fitz Flaald. This is mentioned in the Domesday records of 1086. The castle was the scene of a Parliament held by Richard II in 1398. It was repaired by the Royalists in 1643 but was damaged by the Parliamentarian forces in the following year. It was demolished between 1647 and 1673.

8. Shrewsbury Castle

Shrewsbury Castle as it now stands is the product of many eras and many restorations. It was built on high ground connecting two branches of a loop of the River Severn, which surrounds Shrewsbury, and it dominates the only landward approach to the town.

A castle as such was first constructed here by order of William the Conqueror in 1067 – a very early date and one which reflects the importance of the location on the turbulent border with the independent principality of Wales. Whatever was on the site, it withstood a siege by the Welsh and Edric “the Wild” in 1069, though the town itself was burned down.

9. Stokesay Castle

Stokesay’s moated manor house, timber-framed gatehouse and parish church are a glorious collection of treasures bypassed by time. Though "builded like a castle", Stokesay was really a lightly defended mansion. Tree-ring dating proves that work was completed by 1291, and Stokesay has changed very little since. 

10. Whittington Castle

Nestled in the heart of Shropshire, this enchanting medieval fortress invites visitors to step back in time and discover its fascinating stories, including its legendary links to Robin Hood and the Keepers of the Grail. Stroll through the castle’s moated pathways, explore its ancient turrets, and relax in the peaceful gardens.  

Do you have any pictures from the past you would like to share with us? 

If so, we would love to see them and share with readers. You can email them to [email protected] - please include your name, where you are from, and as much information as you can about the photo(s) and we will publish as many as we can online and in print - we look forward to hearing from you!