The stone bridge over the inner moatA related tale tells of the Reede family who lived in the castle in the reign of James I. They found themselves frequently troubled by a restless spirit, perhaps even that of Lord Beauchamp himself. Desperate to find a solution they employed the services of a famous Wizard from the University of Oxford. The Wizard advised them to locate some of the late Lord Beauchamps bones and to keep them safe within the walls of the castle. So long as this was done the ghostly spirit would trouble them no more. They followed the Wizards advice and sure enough they were no longer haunted by the ghost. The bones were kept safely in a small cedar box labeled "Lord Beauchamps Bones" and over the decades became a family heirloom. So much so that when the castle burned to the ground the small wooden box was rescued from the inferno and moved to the Reedes new home, New Court near Lugwardine.
The north east towerThe castle was not huge but had four octagonal towers and was surrounded by two large moats, the inner of which still remains and contains water to this day. There is little left of the structure itself though, save the stone arch bridge across the inner moat, now shrouded in brambles and ivy, and small sections of two of the towers. The north east tower is a tall, narrow slither of stone, and the south east a low, wide section of wall with a handful of steps still visible and reasonably well preserved. The vast majority of the historic castle though, has regrettably toppled into the depths of the moat.
The south east tower 
7 comments:
What is the chance that Midsummer-Raggedstone was once Raven Hill - as in Bron's Hill?
I had a check:
Ist mention of Bronsil castle circa 1240 AD - related to St. Katherine's Hospital, Ledbury.
Search Bronsil Beauchamp.
The 'saint' in Katherine wasn't! The 'she' was Katherine/Catherine Audley (nee Giffard). The hospital was founded by the bish. of Hereford (in her honour) in 1232 - and this institution is tied to a castle at Bronsil (1240). When was the Red Earl about?
Red Earl was thereabouts but 1287. Ancestor 5th Earl, Gilbert de Clare m Isabelle Marshall (d. of another de Clare!). Could be something to do with them? And hunting?
Hi.
I've been told of a Richard Reed who owned Bromeshill (Bronsil) at the end of the C17th - in his late 80s and fighting a Chancery case to acquire Towbury area (Puckrup).
Did Somers acquire the property after his death, I wonder?
I am dying to know more about the castle just because it shares the same name as my last name. (I know there's no connection though). Do we have any idea of the size of this castle? What about information on the people that owned it?
This is long overdue, but huge thanks to you Geoff for your additional research around this (and other areas of history related to this blog)post. It's really interesting additions and context given to the combination of folklore and history that I've attempted to put across, and very much appreciated.
I suggest any wayward readers who stumble here also check out Geoffs blog :)
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