ONE of the largest castles in the county has been opened to the public after it was previously lost from view following years of neglect.

Snodhill Castle celebrated its opening on the May Bank Holiday weekend and more than 250 visitors attended the momentous event.

The castle has undergone a £620,000 rescue and restoration project which was funded by Historic England.

For the first time in a generation the entire 10 acre site is now clear and its unique and mysterious 12-sided keep fully revealed and expertly restored.

The 950-year-old castle came into the Snodhill Castle Preservation Trust's (SCPT) ownership in 2016 on a 999 year lease from a private owner, thanks to intervention from Historic England.

Dr Sarah Lewis, inspector of historic buildings and areas, Historic England said: “I have worked on the Snodhill Castle project for more than seven years and to see it come to fruition has been the highlight of my career.

"It has been a joy to work with the SCPT, who will be worthy custodians of the castle. I know they will continue the amazing work done here to understand the story of this place.”

On May 5 visitors were greeted with tea and cakes baked by Snodhill residents, and offered guided tours by castle expert, Garry Crook, chairman of the trust and veteran of the 15-year campaign to save the castle.

Later, the new castle gates, made from Snodhill oak, were unveiled by Evelyn Bally, great-great niece of the Rev Thomas Prosser-Powell of Dorstone, descendant of the Prossers who built nearby Snodhill Court after the Civil War using much of the castle's ornament.

The castle which is near Peterchurch and Dorstone is thought to be one of the earliest in the chain of castles built in the Dore Valley during the 11th century.

Decades of neglect had seen sections of the castle’s walls collapse and the castle itself lost from view, and completely inaccessible due to uncontrolled growth of brambles and scrub.

Volunteers from the SCPT, with help from Historic England, cleared vegetation on the site so repairs could take place.

Surrey Garland, treasurer, said: "We aim that this hidden gem of Herefordshire will never again fall into neglect, but be maintained for visitors to discover, scholars to investigate, the community to care for and everyone to simply enjoy."

No-one knows who built the castle or why. Now that the conservation work on the site is complete, research can begin on unlocking that mystery.

The trust invites friends and volunteers to support the castle's new future. Find out more at www.snodhillcastle.org

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