# Weston-under-Redcastle > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Weston-under-Redcastle > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Weston-under-Redcastle.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weston-under-Redcastle > Source revision: 1337425457 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) **Weston-under-Redcastle** is an estate village of the [Sir Rowland Hill](/source/Rowland_Hill_(MP)) legacy estates. It is a [civil parish](/source/Civil_parish) in [Shropshire](/source/Shropshire), England. It lies 10 km (6.2 miles) by road east of [Wem](/source/Wem). Historically, it has been part of the manor of [Hawkstone](/source/Hawkstone_Park). It is under the south west edge of the Hawkstone Ridge.[citation needed] ## Population Population 1881-1961 1871? 296 1881 282 1891 272 1901 222 1911 231 1921 246 1931 253 1951 266 1961 289 ## History ### Ancient history [Bury Walls](/source/Bury_Walls), an [Iron Age](/source/Iron_Age) hillfort, indicates the earliest known substantial occupation of the area.[1] The disputed remains of a Roman camp have been contended for the area, postulated to be the lost settlement of [Rutunium](/source/Rutunium).[2] ### Medieval: the Audley family Weston-under-Redcastle was called Westune in the 1086 [Domesday Book](/source/Domesday_Book); it was included in the [Hundred](/source/Hundred_(county_subdivision)) of [Hodnet](/source/Hodnet) within the county of [Shropshire](/source/Shropshire). The village had 21 households (large for the time) with total tax value of 3 [geld](/source/Danegeld) units.[clarification needed] In 1066 the value to the lord was £3; in 1086 it was £2. The village contained 3 villagers, 9 smallholders, 8 [slaves](/source/Slaves) and 1 [rider](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/rider). Weston had 8 plough lands, 2 lord's plough teams and one men's plough team. In 1066 the lord was [Edric the Wild](/source/Edric_the_Wild), and in 1086 it was Ranulf Peverel.[3] The fifteen [Shropshire hundreds](/source/List_of_hundreds_of_England) mentioned in the [Domesday Survey](/source/Domesday_Survey) were entirely rearranged in the 1100-1135 reign of [King Henry I](/source/Henry_I_of_England), and the Hundred of Hodnet was merged before 1203 into the Hundred of Bradford. When Bradford was divided, Weston was in North Bradford. In 1227 [Henry de Audley](/source/Henry_de_Audley), Sheriff of Shropshire and Staffordshire, built a sandstone castle on a natural outcrop of rock that was flanked on all sides by wide valleys. The [Audley](/source/Audley_family) family, later allied to the [Stanley](/source/Stanley_family) family held it in the medieval period: [Dugdale](/source/William_Dugdale) informs us that "this castle was erected in the reign of [Henry III](/source/Henry_III_of_England); but there is an ancient manuscript in the Audley family, which proves that its original existence was of much earlier date. It is there said that 'Maud, or Matilde, wife of [William the Conqueror](/source/William_the_Conqueror), gave to John de Audley and to his heirs, the lands about Red Castle, in the county of Salop, for certain services done by him to the state." ### Tudor and early modern: the Hill family Main article: [Hawkstone Park](/source/Hawkstone_Park) [Sir Rowland Hill](/source/Rowland_Hill_(MP)) of [Soulton](/source/Soulton_Hall) (associated with [Shakespeare's](/source/William_Shakespeare) play *[As You Like It](/source/As_You_Like_It)* and the coordination of the [Geneva Bible](/source/Geneva_Bible))[4] recruited the Hawkstone landscape for his landscape gardens. At that time, the senior house in the Hawkstone manor was still the Red Castle, and this was recorded as being a ruin when [Leland](/source/John_Leland_(antiquary))[5] visited in around 1540. Hill therefore maintained his house at Soulton. [Hawkstone Park](/source/Hawkstone_Park) as understood today is 100 acres (40 ha) of [follies](/source/Folly_(architecture)) and landscaped parkland grounds and rocky outcrops, based around the Red Castle, and this landscape garden was the output of a further development phase associated with [Richard Hill of Hawkstone](/source/Richard_Hill_of_Hawkstone) (1655-1727), who was a tutor to the family of [Robert Boyle](/source/Robert_Boyle). #### St Luke's Church The [Church of England](/source/Church_of_England) church of St Luke dates back to 1791, built in the [Gothic](/source/Gothic_architecture) style but with a [Georgian](/source/Georgian_architecture) tower. It is a Grade II [listed building](/source/Listed_building). It was originally a [chapel of ease](/source/Chapel_of_ease), attached to the parish of [Hodnet](/source/Hodnet). It now a parish church running with St Peter and St Paul in Wem. The red sandstone building of 1791, on a medieval site, was mostly funded by [Sir Richard Hill, 2nd Baronet](/source/Sir_Richard_Hill,_2nd_Baronet) of Hawkstone. It was restored in the late 19th century: this included the chancel, the gabled timber porch, stained glass, pews and octagonal font.[6] ### 1968 siege In 1968 a farmer named John James held a woman hostage in a derelict cottage just north of the village. The siege lasted for 17 days, with James shooting at photographers and an armoured car sent in by the Army. The siege ended when the hostage threw James's shotgun out of a window, which allowed soldiers and police to storm the cottage. It remains the longest siege of a wanted person in UK history.[7][8][9] ## Transport The village is just east of the [A49](/source/A49_road_(England)), linking it with nearby [Shrewsbury](/source/Shrewsbury). The nearest railway station is [Wem](/source/Wem), with a usually two-hourly service south to [Shrewsbury](/source/Shrewsbury) and north to [Crewe](/source/Crewe). There are two bus stops in Weston, opposite and adjacent to the church, connecting the village with Shrewsbury and Wem. ## Hawkstone landscape park Main article: [Hawkstone Park](/source/Hawkstone_Park) The village is set against [Hawkstone Park](/source/Hawkstone_Park).[10] This is an important and early landscape garden. ## Culture and cultural references Main article: [Hawkstone Park](/source/Hawkstone_Park) Maynard's Farm Shop is located close by and is mentioned in [Rick Stein](/source/Rick_Stein)'s *Food Heroes of Britain*.[11] There is a popular annual village show.[12] ## Filming The landscape was used to represent parts of [Narnia](/source/Narnia) in the [BBC](/source/BBC)'s TV adaptation of [C. S. Lewis](/source/C._S._Lewis)'s books in [The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe](/source/The_Lion,_the_Witch_and_the_Wardrobe) in 1988 and [Prince Caspian](/source/Prince_Caspian) a year later. ## King Arthur and the Holy Grail The area is associated with the Arthurian story of the giants Tarquin and Tarquinus,[13] with records of this in the 1700s. They are said to have owned the Red Castle, and their brother Sir Carados who captured [Sir Gawain](/source/Gawain). [Sir Lancelot](/source/Lancelot) and [Sir Tristam](/source/Tristan) of the [Round Table](/source/Round_Table) set out to rescue their friend. They encountered Sir Carados carrying Sir Gawain bound and tied across his saddle and after a legendary fight Sir Lancelot killed the giant at Killguards near Weston Church freeing Sir Gawain.[14] Legend has it that King Arthur addressed his knights in the caves contained within this parkland.[15] There is a legend that one of the caves of Hawkstone Park was the burial ground of [King Arthur](/source/King_Arthur).[16] There is a folklore belief that the [Holy Grail](/source/Holy_Grail) was in the grotto caves in Hawkstone; this is associated with an early Roman scent jar which was found inside a sculpture of an eagle when that sculpture broke in the 1920s.[17] ## Amenities Weston has a [Village Hall](/source/Village_Hall), and Weston is home to the 18th century [Hawkstone Park](/source/Hawkstone_Park) Hotel which has two golf courses, two restaurants, bars and [Hawkstone Park](/source/Hawkstone_Park) [Follies](/source/Folly).[18] ## See also - [Listed buildings in Weston-under-Redcastle](/source/Listed_buildings_in_Weston-under-Redcastle) - [Bury Walls](/source/Bury_Walls) - [Hawkstone Park](/source/Hawkstone_Park) - [Hawkstone Motocross](/source/Hawkstone_Hall) - [Hawkstone Hall](/source/Hawkstone_Hall) - [Soulton Hall](/source/Soulton_Hall) ## References 1. Stuff, Good. ["Bury Walls: a large multivallate hillfort, Weston-under-Redcastle, Shropshire"](https://ancientmonuments.uk/118482-bury-walls-a-large-multivallate-hillfort-weston-under-redcastle). *ancientmonuments.uk*. Retrieved 2023-04-10. 1. T. Rodenhurst (1840). [*A Description of Hawkstone, the Seat of Sir R. Hill, Bart M.P.: With Brief Notices of the Antiquities of Bury Walls and of Red Castle, an Account of the Column, in Shrewsbury and of Lord Hill's Military Actions*](https://books.google.com/books?id=vEcGAAAAQAAJ&q=roman&pg=PA46). Printed at the Chronicle Office, and sold by J. Watton. 1. ["domesdaymap Weston-Under-Redcastle"](http://domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SJ5628/weston-under-redcastle/). Retrieved 2 May 2012. 1. Austin, Sue (2023-04-21). ["Revealed: Links between Shropshire country hall and the King's Coronation"](https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/attractions/2023/04/21/revealed-links-between-shropshire-country-hall-and-the-kings-coronation/). *www.shropshirestar.com*. Retrieved 2023-09-10. 1. [Church of St Luke: list entry](https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1237198) Historic England. Retrieved 17 January 2018. 1. ["Siege gunman killed himself"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/2649197.stm). *BBC News*. 11 January 2003. Retrieved 25 June 2016. 1. ["Farmer Still Holds UK Hostage Record"](http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Farmer+still+holds+UK+hostage+record.-a096374220). *The Free Library*. Birmingham Post. Retrieved 25 June 2016. 1. Neal, Toby & Gillam, Phil (2003). "It made the news". *Shropshire: Pictures from the Past*. Derby: Breedon Books. p. 44. ISBN 1-85983-371-3. 1. ["North Shropshire Tourism"](http://www.northshropshire.co.uk/weston-under-redcastle/). Retrieved 2 May 2012. 1. ["Maynardsfarm"](http://www.maynardsfarm.co.uk/cookies_failed.asp). Retrieved 2 May 2012. 1. ["Weston under Redcastle Show"](https://www.shropshirelive.com/features/2011/06/14/weston-under-redcastle-show/). *Shropshire Live*. 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2023-04-12. 1. ["Heritage Gateway - Results"](https://www.heritagegateway.org.uk/Gateway/Results_Single.aspx?uid=MSA851&resourceID=1015). *www.heritagegateway.org.uk*. Retrieved 2023-04-12. 1. ["Dog In The Lane"](https://www.doginthelane.co.uk/holygrail.html). *www.doginthelane.co.uk*. Retrieved 2023-04-12. 1. ["Hawkstone Park, Weston-under-Redcastle"](https://cityseeker.com/birmingham/398377-hawkstone-park). *cityseeker*. Retrieved 2023-04-12. 1. ["BBC Shropshire"](https://news.bbc.co.uk/local/shropshire/hi/people_and_places/newsid_8199000/8199441.stm). Retrieved 2 May 2012. 1. ["Holy Grail trail moves on from Shropshire find"](https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2015/04/18/holy-grail-trail-moves-on-from-shropshire-find/). *www.shropshirestar.com*. Retrieved 2023-04-12. 1. ["Hawkstone Park Follies"](http://www.booking.com/hotel/gb/hawkstone-park.html?aid=311076;label=hotel-33883-gb-QH6O_lEQkESNMEHhQBOGTQS4548720840;ws=&gclid=CLalg86O4K8CFU4lfAodJ1EWBQ). Retrieved 2 May 2012. --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Weston-under-Redcastle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weston-under-Redcastle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weston-under-Redcastle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.