Kings and their demesnes · Kingdom of England · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Crown (Salop and Hereford)

The king's own castles and forests on the English side of the Welsh border, kept by the sheriffs and royal foresters: Shrewsbury castle, built by Roger of Montgomery across the neck of the Severn loop; Bridgnorth, Robert of Belleme's castle, royal since Henry II took it from Hugh Mortimer in 1155; Hereford castle on the Wye, the base of royal campaigns into south Wales; Goodrich on the Wye, in the king's hand until it goes to William Marshal in 1204; and the royal forests of the two shires.

Who he is

Name
King John
Title
King of England
Since
Crowned 27 May 1199
Born
24 December 1166
Family
See ese.
Confidence
high

Royal castles and forests of the two shires, standard; the list of demesne manors for 1200 is not pinned.

What it holds

  • Shrewsbury castle (kept by the sheriff, William FitzAlan)
  • Bridgnorth castle and the forest of Morfe
  • Hereford castle (kept by the sheriff of Herefordshire)
  • Goodrich castle (until 1204)
  • The royal forests of Shropshire: the Long Forest, Shirlett, Morfe, Mount Gilbert (the Wrekin), Lythwood and the Stiperstones (Hayes)
  • The royal forest of Haywood south of Hereford
  • Demesne manors and the fee farms of Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth and Hereford (manors not listed: several had been granted away and the 1200 list is not pinned)

How it was acquired

Royal since the forfeiture of the Montgomery earls (1102) and of Hugh Mortimer at Bridgnorth (1155).

Allies and rivals

The sheriffs and foresters; the Marcher lords who hold royal castles in custody.

How things stand that morning

All in the king's hand through his officers; the king is overseas.

Wealth

Town farms, forest pleas and the timber, venison and pannage of the forests.

Military

Shrewsbury, Bridgnorth, Hereford and Goodrich castles and the shire levies.

Threats

  • Welsh raids into the forests of the west

What the year holds

What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.

  1. 1204Goodrich is granted to William Marshal.Depends on: John's favour Stopped by: Play

Places of note

  • Shrewsbury castle: Royal castle
  • Bridgnorth castle: Royal castle
  • Hereford castle: Royal castle
  • Goodrich castle: Royal castle until 1204

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Castles certain; forest bounds of 1200 approximate (they were much reduced by later perambulations).

On the map: Forests drawn as small clusters at their centres; their legal bounds in 1200 were wider and are not reconstructed.

Primary sources for England

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

  • Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond, Jocelin of Brakelond (about 1198 to 1203). An inside account of Bury St Edmunds under Abbot Samson, written while the events were fresh. Read online
  • Chronicle of Melrose, Anonymous (monks of Melrose abbey) (about 1173 to 1270, in many hands; the 1200 entries are near contemporary). The main Scottish annal for the year, kept at a Cistercian house on the Tweed. Read online
  • Chronicle of Roger of Howden, Roger of Howden (about 1192 to 1201). The fullest single narrative for the year. Read online
  • Chronicle of the Princes, Anonymous (Welsh translation of a lost Latin chronicle kept at Strata Florida) (Latin original to about 1282, compiled from contemporary annals; Welsh versions about 1300 and later). The native Welsh record of the year. Read online
  • Chronicle; Deeds of the Kings, Gervase of Canterbury (Chronica about 1188 to 1199; Gesta Regum about 1199 to 1210). The Chronica stops in 1199, so for 1200 the witness is the briefer Gesta Regum, which notes John's peace with Philip, the coronation of Isabella at Westminster on 8 October 1200, and matters touching Canterbury: the archbishop Hubert Walter as chancellor, the cathedral priory's quarrel with him, and the Lambeth college dispute lately settled by the pope. Read online
  • English Chronicle of Ralph of Coggeshall, Ralph of Coggeshall (about 1200 to 1224, in stages). Short but independent entries for 1200 from a Cistercian house in Essex: John's levy on the Cistercians and the carucage, the peace with Philip, the king's new marriage and the queen's coronation, and the death of Hugh of Lincoln. Read online
  • Flowers of History, Roger of Wendover (about 1220 to 1235 at St Albans). For 1200 Wendover is mostly Howden rewritten, so he is a second witness only where he adds St Albans material: a long account of Hugh of Lincoln's last months, death and funeral, and anecdotes about John's conduct toward the Cistercians and his new queen. Read online
  • Images of History, Ralph de Diceto (about 1188 to 1202). A London view of the year from the dean of St Paul's, who knew the justiciar and the bishops personally. Read online

22 more in the sources library for The British Isles.

Sources and studies

  1. Wikipedia: Shrewsbury Castle
  2. Wikipedia: Bridgnorth Castle
  3. Wikipedia: Hereford Castle
  4. Wikipedia: Goodrich Castle

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.