1404, only to be restored by Henry V of England in 1419 after his sons Ieuan ap Griffith and Sir Gruffudd Vychan captured John Oldcastle for Lord Charlton of Powys. On 10 August 1443, at Caus Castle Sir Gruffudd Vychan pierced with a lance the heart of his master, Sir Christopher Talbot (1419–1443), son of John Talbot, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury, and the champion tilter of England. He was outlawed, a reward of 500 marks (£166 6s 8d) offered for his capture, and his lands were passed to John Sutton, 1st Baron Dudley, as the death of the young knight was not regarded as an accident. The Earl of Stafford rarely used the castle in the 15th and 16th centuries so that it was recorded in great decay in 1521, had only two resident tenants in 1541. The castle was given as part of a marriage settlement to John Thynne, but Edward Stafford, 3rd Baron Stafford disputed the ownership. After he and Joan took Caus Castle from Stafford, by force, in 1591, Joan lived at Caus whist John was based at Longleat, Wiltshire. The letters between then illustrate their partnership. Joan appears to have managed many aspects of their estate. The castle was finally deserted after it was destroyed during the English Civil War after falling as a minor Royalist garrison in June 1645. However, Katherine Lowther is said to have been born in Caus Castle in 1653 into the Thynne family. She was a daughter of Sir Henry Thynne, 1st Baronet and Mary Coventry, a daughter of Thomas Coventry, 1st Baron Coventry. References Sources Barker, P.A. (1981). 'Caus Castle and Hawcocks Mount' Archaeological Journal Vol 138 p34 Chitty, L. F. (1954). Caus Castle The Hundred-and-First Annual Meeting: Programme, CAA p19-21 Williams G. (1998). 'Sir Gruffydd Fychan (?-1447)' Montgomeryshire Collections Vol 86, p17-28 External links 3D survey of Caus Castle www.geograph.co.uk : photos of Caus Castle and surrounding area www.rea-valley.com : Small Album of Caus Castle Castles in Shropshire Hill forts in Shropshire History of Shropshire Tourist attractions in Shropshire Ruins in Shropshire