This site details some of the work that has been undertaken by Paul Martin Remfry on his continuing researches to uncover the history and archaeology of our many castles in the British Isles.
At the time of writing in 1998 Paul has just passed into his 37th year. This means that he has been visiting castles for the past third of a century! Since 1984 these visits have become more exacting and Paul has undertaken a systematic trawl of our national and international archive resources which has resulted in an augmentation of his great understanding of the lives of our Medieval forebears. In 1984 he received an Honours degree from the University College of Wales, Aberystwyth, and in 1989 surpassed this with a Master's degree by Thesis on 'The Princes of Rhwng Gwy a Hafren, 1066 to 1282'. This thesis, taken under the supervision of Professor R.R. Davies, was a defining point in Paul's career. This work was in many ways ground breaking, not least because it attempted to tie the architectural remains of castles into the history of the owning families. In the early days when Paul visited castles it struck him that the potted histories he received on site would as a rule contradict one another as to ownership and dates. It was at Aberystwyth that it was ground into Paul that any written history is valueless unless it is underpinned with the original historical fact that underlies any modern assertion. Generally much of what passes for our history of Medieval castles today is valueless. Worse indeed it is often misleading. Many times the guess of a good Medieval scholar has been transformed by later writers, with no good grasp of their subject, into fact. The original source of the historian is lost and his qualifying comments ignored. This helps explain why so much of our castle history is shrouded in darkness.
Listed in the index are the publications which Paul has already produced and also those sites on which he is currently undertaking research. There are in the United Kingdom and France many hundreds of castles the history of which is currently obscure. This research is intended to throw fresh light onto this subject. Furthermore it must be emphasised that this work is not done through idle speculation, but through an in-depth and time-consuming study of Medieval manuscripts which once belonged to the kings, clerics, lords or princes who once held the land on which these castles were built. From these sources combined with observation of the remains of the castles it is then possible to speculate, often with some degree of exactitude, as to who built these castles and why, as well as what became of them.
Banished are such works of poor scholarship which claim over and over again such phrases as 'this castle was built c.1200 as it is mentioned in a document of 1215'. In its place a detailed profile of the owning family is built up, often for hundreds of years before the castle concerned was even constructed. Only in this manner is it possible to look at a site and state 'the history of the owning family would suggest that this castle was not commenced before 1155 and that it was standing and fully defensible by 1186'. In this manner the oft repeated fallacy that Wilton Castle in Herefordshire was built 'in the reign of King Stephen, 1135-54' can be dismissed by a judicious use of historical evidence, even if the lady of the castle, protecting her rights in 1292, claimed that the barony of Wilton had existed at Wilton castle since the days of Edward the Confessor who died in 1066! In a similar manner the oft stated fallacy that a structure dates to c.1260 because there is a tower within the country which is also dated (by the same inaccurate means) to this date. The mere historical fact that this district of Wales had been overwhelmed by the Welsh princes in 1258 and held by them with the castle in ruins until 1277, should of course not violate this sacred cow of 'truth'!
Castle designs, like building designs today, were not uniform. Some styles were anachronistic and others were avant guard. The old belief that there was a castle building sequence that passed from square to octagonal to round towers does not hold true, though like all things there is an element of truth in it. Such 'truth', however, is not greater than historical research at a site which upsets 'traditional' dating. If you want to hear of what actually happened at a castle 'warts and all' then this is the site for you. Do you want to know which great castles are almost entirely fake? They were not just patched up in the Victorian era, but in one or two cases they were actually rebuilt from the foundations up. In one case the castle even seems to have been 'rebuilt' at an entirely different location! So if you want to find out about the history, standing remains and excavation reports on castles read on. Perhaps before you look at what is available you may care to read a few reviews?
How things have progressed in 2002
Questions and Answers given to my wife
How long have you been doing events and talks?
I started doing short talks with the Woolhope Archaeological Research Section in 1990 and soon began giving impromptu talks concerning my researches. Quite soon I was taking members out on day walks and talks around the many castles of Herefordshire. It was 1995, however, when I led my first ‘walk and talk’ around a castle. This was my first time taking a paying group around and I was shattered to find that over a hundred people turned up to be taken around Oystermouth castle on a windswept November morning! From here it was a short step to the Hay Festival and joining the Marchers Guides Association which has recently metamorphosed into the ‘Marches Tours and Talks’. This has proved an effective and enjoyable means to help pass on the knowledge I have gained through my research.
When did you start publishing your work?
Soon after I joined the Woolhope ARS I began publishing odd articles in their journal, then in 1993 I decided to try and sell my own works in an effort to fund further research. In 1994 I produced my first three booklets on the castles of Clun and Hopton and Abbey Cwmhir. Eight years later I have covered 54 castles in England and Wales and the deeds of their lords. I have also produced two full books on the castles of Radnorshire and Breconshire for Logaston Press as well as a single work, From Banff to Plymouth: The Memorabilia of a Nineteenth Century Sailor, on the life of my great great grand-father’s naval career from the battle of Trafalgar to 1835.
Why did you start on this project?
I have always had a love of history and in particular castles. It became obvious to me some time ago that if I wanted to pursue this interest I would have to do it myself. I love exploring the intricacies of Medieval family relations almost as much as scurrying in the decaying ruins of castles themselves! Nothing beats mounting a wall walk that hasn’t seen human feet for years and surveying the scene of battle of yesteryear - except perhaps nods of approval when showing the slides to an audience.
How is your research funded?
Trying to be a full-time researcher is difficult. No one wants to give you money and I have to work hard at what I enjoy to survive. However, the bonuses are well worth it. Working for myself I can largely choose what to research. That said I do have to keep up a certain rate of output as I need to sell my product to make money to live. I also undertake computer consultancy and enjoy the contrast this brings.
Where have you been on your explorations?
Searching for castles has literally taken me all over Northern Europe. I’m often to be found exploring the delightful ruins of French castles - real ones not the large houses they call chateaux! I have been down the Rhine, through Switzerland and Austria and down the mighty Danube to Budapest.
Which is your favourite castle and why?
My favourite castle must be Llanfair Discoed in Gwent. I went there in 1981 on my first motorbike. In the corner of the fortress is a mural tower with first floor entrance. I scaled up the cracked wall to the first floor and then up the spiral stair. Half way up the stair petered out and I continued on the fragments of steps and the ‘putlog’ holes left by where they had fallen out of the wall! When I reached the top I had a wonderful view through the trees and began to tramp the old wall walk. Half way along there was bramble bush which I trod on. It was only then that I realized the bush was there because the wall no longer was! Next thing I knew I was upside down hanging onto the brier for dear life! Upon crawling my way back up the bramble and surveyed the 70 feet drop into the ditch below and decided that my bloodied hands were a little price to pay! Since then I have been more careful to check where my feet are going.
My only regret about that day is that I didn’t have my camera with me. Now the castle is more heavily fortified by KEEP OUT signs and barbed wire than it ever was in the old days. The lack of entrance to ruined castles is one of the worst features of the stupid compensation culture which has been foisted on us.
Which is your favourite Norman family and why?
My favourite family has to be the Mortimers. I grew up on the Wars of the Roses and in 1983 my history professor told me that the Mortimers needed looking at again. He set me off on this intriguing family and I have been hooked on these ‘most arrogant of men’ since that. More than any other Medieval aristocratic family the personalities of the early Mortimers seem to come through as less obscure, even if the first one we have a likeness of is Roger Mortimer who was executed in 1330.
Which is your favourite Welsh family and why?
My favourite princely family has to be the descendants of Elystan Glodrydd. They were incredibly tenacious in holding onto their bit of land in Central Wales and were still recognized as kings as late as 1179. In fact I even dedicate a chapter to King Cadwallon in my forthcoming book on Welsh Battles. Even in 1282 a handful of his descendants were still disputing possession of the ex kingdom.
What is your favourite military period in history and why?
The Anglo-Welsh wars between 1067 and 1295. Virtually every tactic, design, subterfuge and form of combat took place on this frontier from minor skirmishes with only a few dozen combatants to full scale encounters numbered in the tens of thousands. There is something for everyone interested in history during this period.
What is your favourite battle and why?
I’m torn between two battles. Barnet in 1471 whetted my appetite that two army commanders could be so incompetent that they almost missed each other in the night while vying to attack. For that reason it always holds a place in my memory. Maes Madog though is my favourite battle in the forthcoming Welsh Battles, for not only do we have detailed muster rolls showing us the English strength under the earl of Warwick, but we also have a personal account from an English knight who fought there. It makes it more immediate and real than second-hand accounts which are much of what we have for other fields.
Which is your favourite king and why?
My favourite king has to be King Edward I - the lion of justice. He is much maligned of late especially in the hopelessly inaccurate ‘Braveheart’. I have always hoped that someone would do a real Medieval film rather than endlessly repeated versions of Ivanhoe and Robin Hood. The real stories are far more interesting. Fulk Fitz Warin bashing King John over the head with a chess board before going off Robin Hood style in the forests and chopping the hand of a Welsh prince in a skirmish. Roger Mortimer and the Lord Rhys unintentionally severing one another’s communications before clashing at the decisive battle of Radnor. Walter Clifford forcing the king’s messenger to eat the royal writ, wax seal and all. Fair Rosamund seducing a king on her father’s behalf. Hamon Lestrange and Roger Clifford beating up a bishop of Hereford and imprisoning him, before laughing a royal siege to scorn at Montgomery. Earl Miles of Hereford using bodies of dead monks as sandbags while assaulting Hereford castle. The Empress Matilda fleeing Oxford in snow camouflage. King Stephen, foaming at the mouth, as in a fit of hopelessness he flails at his enemies with his battle axe and then sword, breaking them both in the conflict. The haughty Brian Brampton who at 77 was indignant at being told by Edward I that he was too old for a Welsh campaign. The litigious Thomas Corbet leading his Marcher troops in the same campaign while in his ninth decade! Chancellor Longchamp of Wilton castle captured as a transvestite while trying to flee the country. Richard Marshall with just five knights charging an Irish army in a fit of pique. Robert Rhuddlan with just one unarmed squire trying fatally to stop a Welsh raiding party of King Gruffydd ap Cynan... The list is endless.
Why do you research history?
I have often been asked what is the point of studying history. The answer is simple. History is what we were and what we are. We can study the brilliance and mistakes of others and try to run our affairs better as a result. What has been before will not be again, but we should be able to learn from our ancestors’ experiences. Beyond this history is and should be fun. People have often congratulated me on my talks for bringing history to life. I have often heard the phrase from older people "Why was not our history at school this interesting?"
I have a further reason for researching history as it has recently brought me a wife! We met through a mutual interest in this subject and married on 9th November 2001. We now have a lovely bouncing baby, Horace George Remfry, born 24 October 2002. What better reason could anyone have to study history? We have recently bought a new book making machine and plan to produce many more works, both of our own and others at SCS (Strategic Castle Studies) Publishing - a real family-run business.
Copyright © 1994 - 2004 Paul Martin Remfry