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The
design of Old Wardour is said to be unique in England since
it is modelled on the fourteenth century French style, popular
with Lord Lovel who had been in France fighting in the Hundred
Years War. It was at this time that many land owners were
keen to show off their strength and power by building impressive
strongholds and Old Wardour is a fine example.
In
the seventeenth century, much of the west side of Wardour
was destroyed when the castle was twice taken over: once by
the Parliamentarians under the command of Sir Edward Hungerford
who managed to take control of Wardour following a six-day
hold out by Lady Blanche Arundell. While left alone in the
castle by her Royalist husband, she around 25 soldiers managed
to defend Wardour against 1300 advancing Parliamentarians.
Hungerford eventually gave way to Edmund Ludlow who was besieged
by the Royalists for ten months. In March 1643 tunnels under
the castle were mined by the opposing forces but were let
off by accident by the Parliamentarians. The castle's outer
walls were destroyed and on the 18 March 1644 the men laid
down their arms.
Today,
Old Wardour Castle is seen as one of the most romantic ruins
in England. In 1776, the Arundell family built New Wardour
near-by but maintained Old Wardour as an antiquity, building
in the grounds of the old ruin a grotto and later an impressive
Banqueting Room.
GALLERY:
