Elizabeth Wallop

Marriage 1606 IN 1268 Walter de Hopton was SherifF of Shropshire. He was a Judge of the Exchequer, and was the first of the name associated with Shropshire. Hopton was held as a knight's fee in the Fitzalan's Barony of Clun. In 1337 and in 1364 Hoptons were Knights of the Shire, and in 1430 Thomas Hopton was SherifF, His daughter and heiress married Sir Roger Corbet, of Morton, and in the family of Corbet the castle remained till Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Robert Corbet, of Moreton, married Sir Henry Wallop, Sheriff in 1606.

His son, Robert Wallop, M.P. for Hampshire, was a staunch Commonwealth man, was one of the king's judges, and after the restoration was imprisoned for life in the Tower.

It was during his ownership that the castle was garrisoned for the Parliament and defended by Col. Samuel More in 1644. After a gallant resistance it was surrendered to Sir Michael Woodhouse, and all the garrison, with the exception of Col. More, thirty-one in number, were put to the sword.

Since that time the place has been dismantled and uninhabited. Robert Wallop sold it in 1655 to Bartholomew Beale, whose descendant was Sheriff in 1734. The estate was sold by the Beales about 1890 to Sir Henry Ripley, of Bedstone Court, the present owner.

The castle stands in a secluded spot among the hills.