Old Wardour Castle

One of the most romantic ruins in Wiltshire, Old Wardour Castle has a past entangled with the history of England. The castle was built in the late fourteenth century by John, 5th Lord Lovel. The style of building reflects the shift from traditional castles towards more comfortable defended tower houses. The castle is in a French style that John Lovel would have been familiar with from his time in France during the Hundred Years War. Following their support for the Lancastrian side in the Wars of the Roses, the Lovel family lost control of Wardour when Henry of York ascended the throne as Henry VII.

After several changes of ownership, the castle was acquired by the Arundell family of Lanherne in 1547. Having inherited Wardour from his father, Sir Thomas Arundell was executed in 1552 for his support for the Duke of Somerset over the matter of land enclosures. Wardour Castle was seized by the Crown.

Wardour was briefly held by William Herbert, Earl of Pembroke, before Matthew, son of Sir Thomas bought the castle back in 1570. It was another Thomas, Matthew's son, who undertook at considerable refurbishment of the castle. At this time the arrow slits were replaced with large windows and the portcullis was demolished. The work was done by Robert Smythson, the architect of Longleat. Thomas was made Baron Arundell in 1605 by James I. The Castle remained in the Arundell family until the Civil War.

Wiltshire was largely Parliamentarian during the Civil War, placing the Arundell family and Wardour Castle in an isolated position. In 1643, with the castle garrison standing at only twenty men and with Lord Arundell away, the Parliamentarians besieged Wardour. After a week the garrison surrendered. Wardour was not in Parliament's control for long. In December of the same year, Henry Arundell retook the Castle. However, use of tunnelling and then explosives under the south western range of the Castle, caused immense damage making the castle indefensible.

A reconstruction scheme was drawn up in the mid eighteenth century but the 8th Lord Arundell decided that building a new house was preferable. Thus the ruins became known as Old Wardour Castle and a new residence was constructed a mile away.

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