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Weston-under-Redcastle is a small village and civil parish in Shropshire, England. It lies 6.2 miles via road east of Wem within the North Shropshire District Council. It is situated under the south west edge of the Hawkstone Ridge. Weston was mentioned in the Doomsday book, and part of the 1989 BBC adaption of the Prince of Caspian was filmed in part of the village.

The village
Weston-under-Redcastle’s Church the Chapel of Saint Luke dates back to 1791 in the Gothic style but with a Georgian tower. Weston has a Village Hall, and Maynard’s Farm Shop mentioned in Rick Steins Food Heroes of Britain. Two bus stops lie opposite and adjacent to the church providing links to Wem and Bings Heath. Weston is home to the 18th century Hawkstone Park Hotel which has 3 golf courses, 2 restaurants, bars and award winning Hawstone Park Follies. Weston is also home to The Citadel guesthouse which dates back to the 1820s as well as the Windmill Cottage Guesthouse.

Doomsday book
Weston-under-Redcastle was pronounced as Westune in the 1086 Doomsday Book, it was included in the Hundred (county subdivision) of Hodnet within the county of Shropshire. The County had a population of 21 households which was considered quite large for the time with total tax value of 3 geld units. In 1066 the value to the lord was £3 whilst in 1086 was £2. The village contained 3 villages, 9 smallholders, 8 slaves and 1 rider. Weston had 8 plough lands, 2 lords plough teams and one men’s plough team. In 1066 the lord was Edric the wild whilst in 1086 it was Ranulf Peverel.

King Arthur
In one of the caves of Hawestone Park it is rumoured that it was the burial ground of King Arthur.

The Citadel
Lying just to the east of Weston is the Citadel a family owned bed and breakfast in an idyllic setting. The Citadel was built by a descendent of the great land owning Hill family, which included Sir Rowland Hill who was the first Protestant Lord Mayor of London in the 16th century. The building was built by another Sir Rowland in the 1820s for his mother and sister Jane. Constructed in local salmon-red sandstone, it is ingeniously designed in the form of three interlinked towers, set to the points of an isosceles triangle, and the crenulations and cross-loops give the house more than a touch of history and romance. Another imaginative feature is the deep apron terrace of cobbles at the front of the house, framed by a sandstone retaining wall with bastions at each corner.

Weston-under-Redcastle show
Weston-under-Redcastle show is a village fete that takes place in the Citadel showground annually, the show is now considered a major annual event in North Shropshire. The show includes a variety of attractions including parades of vintage tractors, classic cars, children’s tug of war competition, a Shire horse parade, carriage driving, mounted pony club games and North Shropshire hounds and terrier racing. The day ends with a grand parade of all the days winners. Alongside the main attractions is a Companion Dog Show with stalls such as Pinxton Puppets, Ollie the Organ and displays of owls and hawks. There is also traditional afternoon teas and cakes with a BBQ.

Transport
The village is situated closely to the east of the A49 linking it with nearby Shrewsbury. The nearest railway station is Wem taking with a usual two hourly service southbound to Shrewsbury and northbound to Crewe. There are two bus stops in Weston connecting the village with Shrewsbury. The nearest airports are situated in Liverpool and Manchester.