Lyonshall

Lyonshall or is a historic village and civil parish in Herefordshire, England. The civil parish includes the hamlet of Penrhos. According to the 2001 Census, the civil parish had a population of 750, increasing to 757 at the 2011 Census.

Lyonshall or is a historic village and civil parish in Herefordshire, England. The civil parish includes the hamlet of Penrhos. According to the 2001 Census, the civil parish had a population of 750, increasing to 757 at the 2011 Census. ===Lyonshall Castle=== Lyonshall Castle is a ruin in private ownership, with moat and outer enclosure covering about three acres. The building of the castle started in about 1090 when the Devereux family, sometimes referred to as d'Évreux or D'Ebroicis, held it as lords of the manor from Roger de Lacy. Lyonshall was important as one of the border manors of the Marcher lords. Its position, occupying a useful spot on the roads to and from Wales, attracted military interest, and many of the castle occupants continued to lead lives of national significance, often serving in the Royal Courts. Many of Lyonshall's lords have been significant figures, both famous and infamous. In 1322 the castle is mentioned as being part of the estates of Bartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st Baron Badlesmere, who was described on his execution as "a great Baron and as great a Rebel." After Magna Carta some of the Marcher Lords continued to be troublesome to the king. Bartholomew's only son, Giles, died without issue, Lyonshall becoming the property of his sister and co-heir Maud who married John de Vere, 7th Earl of Oxford who fought in the Battle of Crecy in 1346¹. In 1382 Lyonshall passed to Simon de Burley, a royal favourite. Introduced to court at a young age, he went to sea at the age of 14 to fight the Spanish, and he was a soldier until his capture by the French at Poitou in 1369. He was a court tutor, and his former pupil, Richard II, made him Governor of Windsor and Llanstephan, Master of Falconry and Keeper of the Royal Mews; he also received manors and estates in reward for his service. However, he was charged with treason by the Duke of Gloucester and although the king and queen personally knelt to beg for his pardon, he was executed on 15 May 1388. The castle ruins are on Historic England's Heritage at Risk Register due to their poor condition. ===Lords of Lyonshall Castle=== == Economy== Lyonshall parish has a largely agricultural economy. It contains six poultry farms, produces blackcurrants, potatoes and livestock, and arable crops. Major businesses include one that owns farms, hires marquees and runs a fleet of lorries; and another which employs almost 100 people in caring for around 50 elderly residents at an historic manor house. Other companies include that producing hand-made beds and other furniture specialising in the use of sustainable local oak, a waste management company, and a company providing drainage and plumbing services. With the larger businesses are smaller, often one-person parish enterprises. The Royal George pub, now closed, is in the centre of the village and is a black and white building dating to 1600. Since its closure and purchase from its previous owner, it has fallen into a poor state of repair. It was originally named The George, but was renamed after the naval disaster of 1782 when the flagship The Royal George sank at Spithead with the loss of 900 lives. ==In popular culture== Sue Gee's 2004 novel The Mysteries of Glass concerns a curate working in the parish of St. Michael and All Angels in Lyonshall in 1860/1. ==Gallery== Image:The Whittern in Lyonshall.JPG|The Whittern Image:St Michael and All Angels' Church, Lyonshall, Herefordshire, in July 2007.jpg|Lyonshall Church File:Lyonshall railway station 2026606.jpg|At one time Lyonshall had a Great Western Railway station ==References== ==Notes==

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