Apley Castle was a moated, fortified
manor house in Hadley near
Wellington. 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. The building work occurred shortly afterwards, producing a square building set around a central courtyard. Charlton's descendants expanded the castle considerably into an Elizabethan mansion during the late 16th and early 17th century, using grey
ashlar stone.
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. 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. 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. 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. This building was demolished in 1955, and the stables fell into disrepair. In 1996, the stables, including their medieval elements, were renovated and turned into a private house. The site is a Grade II*
listed building. ==See also==