| The history of the town goes back a long time before the Norman Conquest. At the time of the Conquest, Cleobury Mortimer was held by Queen Edith, wife of Edward the Confessor, and after the conquest it was held by Ralph de Mortimer who came with the Conqueror from Normandy and was one of the chiefs at the Battle of Hastings.
Later, he was sent to subdue Edric, Earl of Shrewsbury, and in doing so received the grant of Edric's estates. He made Cleobury his principle residence and ultimately gave his name to the town.
For the next four centuries the name Mortimer was well known and possessions grew.
Hugh Mortimer, son and heir of Ralph, refused to pay homage to Henry II on the death of Stephen, and fortified his three castles at Cleobury, Bridgnorth and Wigmore in defiance of the king. His defiance was short-lived and his castle at Cleobury fell in 1154, and Bridgnorth the following year. Hugh Mortimer himself was eventually captured and held to ransom in Ludlow GO2 Ltd thank Tim Carrington of S'Shropshire Promotions' for these extracts | |
