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unknown. But there is one thinpr that may perhaps be worthy of note. Camden 

 writing of Snothill uses these words, " Where there is a quarry of excellent 

 marble." Camden, we know, was accused of being a plagiarist. Is this small 

 matter simply a copy of Leland, or had he other grounds for his statement about 

 this marble at Snothill ? "The castle is somewhat in ruine." That is Leland's 

 sentence, and I will refer to it later on. " There is a Fre Chappell." The site 

 of this chapel has been pointed out to me as being situated where yonder cottage 

 now stands, and I have been told on good authority that at the beginning of this 

 century some of the stone of the chapel, as also a portion of the castle wall, was 

 used for the erection of farm buildings. It has been suggested that the string 

 course on the wall, just below where we are standing, points to that jiortion of the 

 castle as the site of this chapel. Blount of Orleton's MSS., 1G75, has a reference to 

 it thus : — Nuper libera capelhe fiindakc infra castrum de Siiodhill dadwn spectan." 

 The same MSS. " Within this castle was a free chajsel, but by whom founded I 

 have not seen, howbeit Queen Elizabeth granted to Cecily Pickerell certain of 

 her tythes in Snodhill, Fownhope, and Peterchurch. " I would call your 

 attention to a raised mound in the centre of the valley north of the castle 

 surrounded by a ditch ; this mound stood in the centre of a swamp or morass, 

 not many years ago the home of large flocks of wild fowl. This morass is now 

 converted by drainage into rich meadow land, but it still bears the name of The 

 Splashes. It has been suggested that this mound was the site of the free chapel. 

 It has also been suggested that it was a refuge for cattle in flood time — " Who 

 shall decide when doctors disagree ? " Between The Siilaslies and village of 

 Peterchurch is some fine pasture land, which at the beginning of this century was 

 unenclosed and went by the name of the Common Meadow, but long before its 

 enclosure and sub-division, the right of depasturage had been absorbed by a few 

 of the neighbouring landowners. 



Having pointed out to you the surroundings of the castle and those objects 

 which seem to be of any interest, as far as I can I will try and give you a sketch 

 of its history. Mr. Robinson, in that excellent work "The Castles of Hereford- 

 shire and their Lords," says that the possessor of Snodhill at Domesday survey 

 was Hugh I'Asne ; I know that Mr. Robinson must have good authority for his 

 statement, but neither in Domesday book nor in Duncumb's reference to it can I 

 find any name resembling Snodhill. I should feel very grateful to one better 

 informed than myself for an opinion or statement on this point. I find Hugh 

 I'Asne in the list of proprietors of land in Herefordshire, that is all. Robert de 

 Chandos came with William the Conqueror, and the Castle of Snodhill, with many 

 other manors, was held for many generations by the family that he founded. 

 In the year 1221 the King (Henry III.) granted the wardship of the lands, and of 

 the heir of one Robert Chandos, to William de Cantilupe, whereupon Sarra, 

 Chandos's widow, received command that she should forthwith give him possession 

 of the Castle at Snodhull. Later on in this king's reign, this heir Roger, as one 

 of the Barons Marchers, received command from the King to assist the Earl of 

 Hereford in guarding the same. In the reign of Edward we find the son of this 

 man Robert de Chandos taking part in an expedition into Wales as holding the 



