Stokesay Castle

Over het museum

Stokesay Castle stands in a quiet Shropshire valley near the Welsh border. Almost everything visible today was built in the 1280s and 1290s by Laurence of Ludlow, a wool merchant who had become one of the richest men in England. He wanted a comfortable and impressive home that also looked like a castle; its military look is only for show, as the house could not have withstood a serious siege. Tree-ring dating shows that the main work was finished by 1291.

The castle was held by Laurence's descendants until the 16th century and later passed to other owners. In 1645, during the Civil War, a Parliamentary force besieged it and its garrison surrendered, but only minor damage was done. The only major later addition is the timber-framed gatehouse of 1640 to 1641, with its carved decoration. In the 18th century the buildings fell into poor repair, and restoration work in the 19th century aimed to keep them as they were. The castle opened to paying visitors in 1908.

In 1986 the owner placed the castle in the guardianship of English Heritage. Visitors can see the Great Hall with its original roof and staircase, climb the North Tower, see the carved solar, walk through the cottage garden and around the moat, and use the free audio tour.

Hoogtepunten

• Great Hall with its 13th-century timber roof and staircase
• North Tower with medieval tiled floor and wall painting
• The solar with a carved 17th-century overmantel
• Timber-framed gatehouse of 1640 to 1641 with carved figures
• Cottage garden and moat walk
• Free audio tour and a family trail based on a local giants legend

Vaste collectie

• Stokesay Castle rooms and displays – New displays in each room use furniture and objects to tell the story of the castle's past residents.
• The Great Hall – A hall that has barely changed in over 700 years, with a timber roof and a staircase whose treads are cut from whole tree trunks.

Opgericht

1285

Beheerder

English Heritage

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

Prices depend on the day (off-peak, standard or peak). The lowest advance online prices are shown: adult £9.26, child £4.59, concession £8.50 and family £23.12. Advance online adult prices range from £9.26 to £12.32, and tickets bought on the day cost more, from £10.90 to £14.50 for an adult. These prices exclude the optional Gift Aid donation, which adds about 10%. Booking online by midnight the day before saves 15%. English Heritage members enter free, with up to six children free with an adult member.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: niet aanwezig
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

Wheelchair access is limited, because there are many small, uneven stairs and no ramps or lifts. The courtyard is reached up two steps through a narrow historic gate, a wooden staircase leads from the Great Hall to the top of the North Tower, and the solar is reached by an outside staircase. Manual wheelchair users are advised to bring an assistant, and motorised scooters cannot be used. Paths are grass, stone slabs, hardcore and gravel. Blue Badge spaces are provided in the car park, which is 300 m from the entrance, and disabled visitors can be dropped off close to the entrance if they telephone in advance. An induction loop is at visitor reception, large print and braille guides are offered and audio tours are available. There is no artificial lighting inside the castle except in the cellar. Assistance dogs are welcome.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Speurtocht, doeboekje of kinderaudiotour
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte
• Speeltuin / speelhoek

A new playground inspired by the castle's towers and gatehouse stands near the tearoom, with accessible surfaces and equipment for children who use wheelchairs or mobility aids. Baby changing is in the accessible toilet, and the tearoom has highchairs, child-size portions and bottle warming. Pushchairs are allowed, but the site has many steps. A family trail based on a local legend of giants who have lost the key to their treasure chest, and a World Builder forest trail.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

The castle is 7 miles north-west of Ludlow and 1½ miles south of Craven Arms, signposted from the A49 (sat-nav SY7 9AH). The National Cycle Network can be used for cycling routes.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant: niet aanwezig
• Museumwinkel

A dog-friendly cottage tearoom just outside the castle serves hot and cold drinks, cakes, toasted ciabattas, ice cream and children's lunch bags, with soup from November to March and baguettes from April to October. It has a log burner and outdoor seating. The gift shop is in the visitor centre. Picnics are welcome in the courtyard and on the benches outside reception.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

Het museum heeft hierover geen informatie gepubliceerd.

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