1066-1072
Norman conquest of England by William, Duke of Normandy (William I).
1068-1072
First castle at Wigmore built by William FitzOsbern to strengthen the Welsh border as part of William the Conqueror's huge defensive building programme. The castle was probably a small one built of earth and timber.
1075
William FitzOsbern's sons rebel against William the Conqueror who seizes the castle and gives it to Ralph de Mortimer - Wigmore will remain a Mortimer stronghold until the 14th century.
after 1135
The castle's rebuilt on a larger scale by Ralph's son Hugh. It includes a large motte (an artificial earth mound on which the castle's main tower is erected) with an enclosed bailey (a courtyard surrounded by buildings) to the south-east. At this stage the buildings and defences are still made of timber. In 1996 a kitchen dating from this period was discovered under the present south curtain wall.
1155
Wigmore Castle is besieged by Henry II as a result of Hugh Mortimer's support for Stephen of Boulogne. Two small earthwork castles to the east and west of the castle have survived - these were probably siege-works built for the campaign.
by 1181
Hugh's son, another Hugh, begins rebuilding parts of Wigmore Castle in stone - for example the earliest phase of the gatehouse and, on the motte, the walling of the shell-keep (a circular or oval structure surrounding the castle's inner portion).
by 1246
Hugh's grandson Ralph completes the castle in stone, building the curtain wall (a connecting wall) that surrounds the bailey. This still stands to full height on the east side and the south side between the south tower and the gatehouse.
1304
Roger de Mortimer, a notable member of the dynasty, succeeds his father Edmund. He strengthens the family's position in Wales and this prompts Edward II to imprison him in the Tower of London for two years.
1324
Roger escapes from the tower. He becomes the lover and advisor of Isabella of France, Edward II's estranged wife. (Mortimer and Isabella are depicted at right)
1327
Edward II is deposed and murdered on Roger Mortimer's instruction.
1327-1330
While Isabella's son (later Edward III) is still a minor Roger acts as Regent and in 1328 creates himself as first Earl of the March. To add to his stature, he rebuilds Wigmore in the form we see it today. The virtually complete chamber block at Ludlow Castle gives a good impression of what the buildings at Wigmore would have looked like at this time.
1330
Edward III succeeds his father, imprisons Isabella and has Roger Mortimer executed as a common criminal. He nevertheless allows Mortimer's grandson, another Roger, to keep Wigmore.
1354
As second Earl of March, Roger becomes a trusted royal servant. He has his grandfather's sentence reversed and inherits all the Mortimer estates which have increased through dynastic marriages. His son, Edmund, third Earl of March, marries Edward III's granddaughter Phillipa.
1381
The fourth earl, another Roger, inherits at the age of six, and is declared heir presumptive should Richard II (his mother's cousin) die childless.
1399
Roger Mortimer is killed in battle in Ireland in 1398. Henry Bolingbroke (Henry IV) seizes the throne and deposes Richard II. Roger's two sons are held in Windsor Castle. Their uncle, Sir Edmund Mortimer, joins Owain Glyndwr in his Welsh revolt.
1403
Henry IV finally defeats Glyndwr at Shrewsbury.
1403-1413
The Mortimer heirs are kept under 'royal protection' until released by Henry V who needs their help with his French campaigns.
1461
Edward of York (later Edward IV and also a member of the dynasty) conducts the last military action associated with Wigmore Castle. At Mortimer's Cross he defeats the Tudors and eventually deposes Henry VI.
1461-1483
During the reign of Edward IV Wigmore Castle ceases to have any real significance and is barely maintained. It is supplanted by Ludlow as a royal castle.
16th Century
The castle is managed by the Council of the March. It is used as a prison (the vaulted basement, a late medieval insertion, served as a cell) and begins to fall into disrepair. A survey of 1586 finds that 'the houses, buildings, walls and other edifices being very much decayed will not without great charges be repaired...'
1601
Queen Elizabeth I sells Wigmore to Thomas Harley of Brampton Bryan. His son, Sir Roger Harley, a puritan and Parliamentarian, inherits the castle. He leaves it in the charge of his third wife, Lady Brilliana who dismantles the castle's defences to stop the Royalists fortifying it against her.
1643
Hereford is taken from Parliament by the Royalists. Brampton Bryan is destroyed and Lade Brilliana, who had been ill for several years, dies weakened by the siege.
1644
Wigmore Castle is already a ruin, having played no part on the Civil War. The Royalist forces surrenders after Charles I's defeat at Gloucester.
Mid 17th Century
Excavation has revealed that there was a considerable amount of destruction and looting at Wigmore. The buildings were left roofless and crumbled through natural decay.
1732
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