Roch Castle

Roch Castle, Pembrokeshire
Photo © Robin Lucas, 23 june 2007

Roch Castle is a 13th century castle, located near Haverfordwest, Wales.

Built by Norman knight Adam de Rupe in the second half of the 12th century, probably on the site of an earlier wooden structure. Roche is the usual French word for ‘Rock’, while rupestre signifies ‘a plant growing among rocks’.

Built at the same time as Pill Priory, Roch Castle was probably built in this location as one of the outer defences of "Little England" or "Landsker", as it is located near the unmarked border for which centuries has separated the English and Welsh areas of Pembrokeshire.

After the deRupe family died out in the 15th century, the Castle was taken over eventually in the 17th century by the Walter family. Their daughter Lucy was born in the castle, and later became a courtesan of Charles II, and bore him an acknowledged son James, the first Duke of Monmouth.

During the English Civil War, the Walter family declared for King Charles I. Although Pembrokeshire was initially Royalist, the Puritans gained the upper hand. The castle changed hands twice, before the Walter family fled when it was captured for a second time by the Parliamentary forces and subsequently burned in 1644. It lay dormant and unclaimed until the return of James, who led and was captured at the Battle of Sedgemoor, and then beheaded on Tower Hill during the Bloody Assizes.

The castle remained decaying until 1900, when purchased by John Philipps, 1st Viscount St Davids, who restored it with a steel frame and new concrete floors to the designs of D.E. Thomas of Haverfordwest. Further works were carried out in 1910 and circa 1918-20, the latter by D.F. Ingleton.

After being purchased in 2008 by the Retreats Group, it is presently being restored as a corporate retreat, hotel and training facility.

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