For profiles of Barons and others affiliated with Caus Castle, please see: Category: Caus Castle, Shropshire.
Caus Castle was located "....9 3/4 miles W by S from Shrewsbury. The hill upon which this stronghold stands is 180 feet above the River Rea, flowing at the NW side and the whole of the summit is occupied by the works of Roger Fitz-Corbet. The mount on the SE limit of the site rises 55 feet from the base of the fosse (dry-ditch - John M:20) surrounding it, except at NE on which side is the bailey where the dividing fosse is shallow and extends but half the width of the court. The inner bailey is 30 feet above the fosse which is a continuation of that around the mount but the vallum (earth wall or bank - John M:20) as now seen from the bailey is no earthwork, it is a grass-covered ruin of the masonry which surrounded the entire crest of the court; the remains of a shell keep occupy the summit of the mount and a well within the court - fashioned with dressed stone - ensured a constant supply of water. [1]
Around this lofty citadel and its fosse is a vallum varying from 8 feet on the NW side to 18 feet on the SW and 12 feet on the S; girdling the works except on SE where the fosse finds an exit and continues on either side around the outer court. A second fosse and vallum pass from the entrance, on the N, to the S at which point the latter is 20 feet deep and is confined within a bend of the inner and outer vallum, constituting and extremely strong defence. The entrance, on the N, is between an elongation of the vallum and a broad platform which here attains 18 feet in height. Outside the vallum is a low agger about 150 feet long (agger: an isolated length of vallum - John M:20). An extensive court spreads over N and SW area capable of safeguarding herds of cattle, formerly surrounded by an earthen rampart which is now destroyed at the N extremity by farm buildings and a pond. At SW corner is a sunken road with an agger 6 feet high on its W side, leading to the ruins of a massive gateway." [Ref: Corbet citing: Victoria County History] [1]
"Caus has one of the best defensive sites along the whole of the Welsh Border. Steep slopes fall away from both sides of the ridge. The sole relic of the town walls is one side of the base of the Wallop Gate at the SW corner, which has a tree growing on it. The castle itself is overgrown, covered in trees and buried in the debris of its own walls. Extensive remains of the bailey walls and buildings lie under the soil. At the east end are fragments of two large towers, probably D-shaped, flanking a gateway and a large hall can be traced on the south. NW of the hall, at the foot of the mound, is a stone lined well-shaft. The north side of the bailey, facing the town, has a formidable double ditch and rampart system. The motte rises steeply to a height over 12 metres above the ground to the SW. Sett well inside the edge of the summit are the remains of the base of a round tower keep just over 11 meters external diameter but there are no traces of a shell wall as claimed by other writers." [1]
- coordinate: 52.6625,-2.9787
The Barons
- Roger Fitz Corbet, First Baron of Caus
- William Corbet, son of Roger, Baron of Caus
- Ebrard Corbet, brother of William, Baron of Caus
- Roger Corbet, who may be the son of William, Baron of Caus
- Robert Corbet, son of Roger, Baron of Caus or perhaps Simon
- Thomas Corbet, son of Robert, Baron of Caus
- Peter Corbet, son of Thomas, Baron of Caus
- Peter Corbet, son of Peter, Baron of Caus
- John Corbet, brother of Peter, Last Baron of Caus
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Augusta Elizabeth Brickdale Corbet. The Family of Corbet: Its Life and Times. London: the St. Catherine Press, 1915. Further cited by Jim Weber, Rootsweb. Phillips, Weber, Kirk and Staggs Families of the Pacific Northwest Accessed October 17, 2017.
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