Whittington Castle is a “chocolate-box” ruin complete with a
bridge, gatehouse, heavy wooden entry door, towers and water
frontage. In 2007 a major restoration of the castle was
completed, including the provision of a new tea-room and
improved visitor access. See www.whittingtoncastle.co.uk for the
latest information. Whittington is an unusual borderland castle
in that it does not stand on high ground; in fact, it’s quite
the reverse as it sits on lowlands. In its day it had defences
in the form of ditches, spring-fed moats, and marshy bogs and
succeeded quite well in defending any attacks. The present day
castle was built in 1221 by Fulk Fitz Warine during the reign of
King Henry III. The site had earlier fortifications starting
about 843. The first real printed mention of the castle is 1138.
The castle passed through many owners before the FitzWarins. Two
years after Fulk Fitz Warine built the castle it was destroyed
by the Welsh (1223). The castle was rebuilt and again in 1259,
it was found having to defen