Bridgnorth Castle, Medieval fortress ruins in Bridgnorth, United Kingdom
Bridgnorth Castle is a ruined medieval castle perched on a sandstone cliff above the River Severn in the town of Bridgnorth, Shropshire. What remains today is mostly a square keep, which stands at a noticeable angle on the cliff edge, alongside open garden grounds.
The original fortress was built shortly after 1100 by Robert de Belleme, a Norman lord who wanted to control the crossing of the River Severn at this point. During the English Civil War in the 17th century, the castle was taken by Parliamentary forces and then deliberately slighted, which explains its ruined state today.
The castle grounds hold a war memorial dedicated to soldiers of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry, giving the site a solemn tone that visitors notice immediately. The surrounding area has been turned into a public garden where locals come to sit and walk.
The ruins are easy to reach on foot from the town center, with access from West Castle Street. The ground around the keep is uneven and slopes in places, so sturdy footwear is a good idea, especially after rain.
The surviving keep leans at about 15 degrees, making it considerably more tilted than the tower in Pisa. This lean was caused not by time or decay, but by the deliberate demolition work carried out after the Civil War, which left the structure permanently off balance.
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