Urishay Castle


Urishay constitutes the remains of a castle, 16th century chapel and 17th century house located about 2.5 km west of Peterchurch in Herefordshire, England.

History of the site

The first part of the name Urishay is derived from "Ulric" or "Urri" who was a twelfth-century tenant of the estate. The second part of the name comes from the word "Hay", meaning an enclosure in open woodland where wild game could be trapped.
Although the location is referred to as Urishay Castle, there is some doubt as to whether it actually served as such or whether it was just a large house.

Urishay Castle today

There are remains of a motte on which lies a ruined house dating back to the 17th or 18th centuries. The ruins of Urishay Castle Chapel, which dates to the 12th century, are owned and maintained by the Friends of Friendless Churches. The chancel contains a stone altar with five crosses on its surface.
Urishay Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument and a grade II* Listed Building.

Baker University

The Collins Library at Baker University in Baldwin City, Kansas houses a 15th-century room that came from Urishay Castle. The room, which was installed around 1908, is known today as the Urishay Room.