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the site of a building of much greater antiquity, by Richard Beauchamp, Esquire, 

 the son and heir of John, first Lord Beauchamp, of Powyk, to whom license was 

 granted in 1449, and again in 1460, to enclose 300 acres of land in Eastnor, as a 

 park, and to crenellate his mansion (Lie. Crenell. Rot. Turr., 29 and 36 H. VI.). 

 The building was probably completed in the reign of Edward IV., and Buck's view 

 taken in 1731, at a time when the towers and most of the outer walls were standing, 

 although in a state of ruin ; and another drawing made by Kennion, some forty 

 years later, possess details sufficient for a correct estimate to be formed of the size 

 and appearance of the original structure. In form, it was nearly quadrangular ; 

 the sides measuring about forty yards in length, with a somewhat lofty octagonal 

 tower at each angle. Of these a portion only of one remains standing. The old 

 prints convey the erroneous idea that the towers were circular, but this is set right 

 by Robinson's view taken in 1869. The approach was by means of a draw-bridge 

 on the western side, with a doorway flanked by towers ; and the whole was 

 defended by two moats, some twenty yards apart. The greater part of the inner 

 moat, which was faced with stone, is still well preserved, and the form of the 

 outer moat may be easily traced — double moats like these are rare and curious. 

 It is said that a place within the building was formerly used as a dungeon, and in 

 A Description of England and Wales, published in 1769, occurs this passage : 

 " There has lately been discovered in it a very remarkable cavern." 



The Reedes continued to occupy Bronsil until it was burnt and desolated in 

 the civil wars of the seventeenth century, but how or when I have ncjt been able 

 to learn. Webb mentions that Richard Reede, with Robert Higgens, of Eastnor, 

 and Ambrose Elton, of the Hazel, Francis Hall, of Ledbury, and Sir Richard 

 Hopton, of Canon Frome, associated with the rebels, and were named amongst 

 the commissioners appointed for levying monthly exactions in the county, for 

 sequestrating the estates of the Royalists, and other parliamentary affairs. — 

 Memorials of the Civil Wars, page 25. 



Sir John Beauchamp, one of the early proprietors of the castle, was much 

 celebrated for his wisdom and courage. He was elevated to the peerage in 1447, by 

 Henry VI., in consequence of many good and acceptable services performed by him 

 to that monarch, and to his father, Henry V. He was Justice of South Wales, a 

 Knight of the Garter, and afterwards Lord Treasurer of England. He bequeathed 

 his body to sepulture in the church of the Dominican friars, in Worcester, in a 

 new chapel "to be built on the north side for that purpose. " His son dying 

 without issue (male), the title, at the death of Richard, second Lord Beauchamp, 

 in 1496, became extinct, and his estates were divided among his grand-daughters, 

 of whom Margaret, the youngest, married William Reede, Esquire, of Lugwar- 

 dine, Herefordshire,* son of Gabriel Reede, of Bronsil Castle, and Milborough 

 Clynton, of Castle Ditch, Eastnor, f but descended from an old Worcestershire 



* William Reed, son of Gabriel Reed, of Bronsil Castle and Milborough Clynton, purchased 

 the Manor of Lugwardine from the heir of Sir Roger Bodenham, temp. Eliz. 



tBy the will (of which the writer has a copy) of "Thomas Clynton, of Estnor, in the 

 "Countie of Hereford, Esquier, made the fourthe daye of December, in the Eyghteneth yeare 



