An engraving of Bridgnorth Castle, dated 1774 and recently added to my collection.

I remember when this one featured on Time Team, cracking programme, one of their best.

So what happened? Was it undermined or simply a poor foundation and footing?

It was blown up, Cromwell I think.

Yes, it was Cromwell.

Time Team at Bridgenorth

I really despise that man and his methods. His excepting bribes for not slighting, which to him meant total destruction, a castle the most I think.

Well, he was at war, and the castles presented a threat. As always when you're at war, finance can be critical. Castles were part of the machinery of war, even as late as Cromwell's time, and if they were in the hands of the enemy.....
He wasn't the only one to rob us of a lot of castles to view, remember Robert the Bruce also slighted the majority of castles in Scotland in the early 14thc, and I'm sure Bruce and Cromwell weren't the only ones.

I'm not sure I would call what he did an act of war and most Certainly not if considered a war was to be fought with scruples and a smidgen of honor.
If I remember things rightly, and I may have my history mixed up, Cromwell did all the damage after the war and only to those who had fought against the crown.
A well used tactic of that age to squash any left over hope amongst the people.

Yes your right, Bruce did do damge to castles that might have been used against him, but he at least was at war when he did it.

Two old postcards of Bridgnorth Castle, recently purchased.

I like the first one, it really shows off the lean.

More old postcards of Bridgnorth Castle from my collection.

Bridgnorth Castle in 1811.
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Bridgnorth Castle in 1824.
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