Ewyas Harold Castle

Ewyas Harold Castle consists of a circular earthwork rising about 13 meters above the surrounding landscape and ringed by a defensive ditch. The mound contains stone and clay, with fragments of stone scattered at its top.

The fortification was built around 1048 under King Edward the Confessor, making it one of the earliest motte-and-bailey structures in pre-Norman England. It demonstrates that military architecture was already well developed before the Norman invasion.

The site combines two aspects of medieval life together on one location. The presence of a priory reveals how closely military power and religious authority were intertwined in that era.

The site is accessible via a public footpath located about 1 mile north of the A465 road near Pontrilas in Herefordshire. The area is open and straightforward to visit without advance arrangements.

Beneath the earthwork mound lies a mix of stone and clay, indicating earlier structural elements on the site. The scattered stone pieces at ground level suggest that a more substantial building once stood at this location.

GPS coordinates: 51.95340,-2.89630

Latest update: December 8, 2025 21:00