| Apley Castle | |
|---|---|
| Hadley, Shropshire, England | |
 Converted stableblock, containing remains of original castle | |
| Site information | |
| Type | Fortified manor house |
| Owner | Private |
| Condition | Inhabited |
| Location | |
  Apley Castle Shown within Shropshire | |
| Coordinates | 52°42′55″N2°30′44″W / 52.7152°N 2.5122°W |
Apley Castle was a medieval fortified manor in the village of Hadley, Shropshire, England.
Apley Castle was a moated, fortified manor house in Hadley near Wellington. [1] By the early 14th century the manor was owned by the Charlton family, who had become major landowners in the region, and in 1327 Sir Alan Charlton received a licence to crenellate the manor house. [2] The building work occurred shortly afterwards, producing a square building set around a central courtyard. [3] Charlton's descendants expanded the castle considerably into an Elizabethan mansion during the late 16th and early 17th century, using grey ashlar stone. [4]
Margaret Charlton, the religious non-conformist, was born here in 1636. She would be a supporter and later wife of Richard Baxter. In 1642 the castle passed by marriage to Thomas Hanmer, who married Margaret's mother (and very recent widow) Mary Charlton. [5] With the outbreak of the English Civil War that year between the supporters of King Charles and Parliament, Hanmer, a royalist, fortified the mansion, which formed a valuable strategic stronghold close to Shrewsbury. [6] Encouraged by Francis Charlton's younger brother, the castle was sacked by Parliamentary forces during the war: £1,500 of damage was done and the lead from the roof was stolen for use at Shrewsbury Castle. [7] Hanmer was taken prisoner and Mary Hanmer managed to recover both her children and the castle in order that her son Francis Charlton could become its heir. [5]
A second mansion, also called Apley Castle, was subsequently built between 1791 and 1794 for the Charltons, and the repaired first castle was reused as the stableblock for this building. [8] This building was demolished in 1955, and the stables fell into disrepair. [9] In 1996, the stables, including their medieval elements, were renovated and turned into a private house. [10] The site is a Grade 2* listed building.
