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Raglan
Timeline
1432 Raglan building begins
A Welsh knight called Sir William ap Thomas purchases the manor of Raglan and
begins to build the original parts of the castle, including the Great Tower and
the South Gate. The site is perhaps the site of an earlier motte and bailey castle.
1445 Sir William ap Thomas dies
Sir William dies and is succeeded by his son, also William, who adopts the surname
Herbert. William Herbert is a prominent supporter of Edward, Earl of March (later
King Edward IV) in the Wars
of the Roses.
1460-9 Raglan castle completed
William Herbert builds the remainder of the medieval castle, including the main
gatehouse.
1468 William Herbert created Earl
Edward
IV creates William Herbert Earl of Pembroke in recognition of his faithful
service.
1469 William Herbert executed
William Herbert is executed without trial after the battle of Edgecote, when Edward
IV is temporarily overthrown by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick. The Herbert
family continue to live at Raglan.
1507 Sir Charles Somerset inherits
Sir Charles Somerset inherits the castle in right of his wife (and sole heir to
the Herbert estate) Elizabeth Herbert. Sir Charles is later made Earl of Worcester
by Henry
VIII.
1549-89 Long Gallery built
Raglan is owned by William Somerset, grandson of Charles, who makes huge changes
to the castle. He largely rebuilds the Pitched Stone Court and adds the Long Gallery.
At the same time, he lays out ornamental gardens.
1628 Henry Somerset inherits Raglan
Henry Somerset, Earl and later Marquis of Worcester, succeeds his father and inherits
Raglan. He is the last resident owner of the castle.
1646 Siege of Raglan
Raglan is besieged by a Parliamentary army in one of the longest sieges of the
English
Civil War. The Marquis of Worchester is persuaded to surrender by
Sir Thomas Fairfax and his six mortar pieces.
1646 Raglan destroyed
Parliament orders the destruction of the castle and the sale of the materials.
The Marquis of Worchester dies
The Marquis dies, aged 70, in captivity in London. According to his chaplain,
Dr Thomas Bailey, he says on his death bed, 'I shall have a better castle when
I am dead than they took from me when I was alive.'
1660 The Somersets regain possession of Raglan
The Somersets regain possession of Raglan after the Restoration
of Charles II. However, they abandon the ruined castle and build a new home at
Badminton in Gloucestershire. The Somersets, now the dukes of Beaufort, continue
to live at Badminton House today.
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