| Bollitree Castle | |
| Type: | Country house |
| Map Relief: | yes |
| Coordinates: | 51.9136°N -2.5295°W |
| Location: | Weston under Penyard, Herefordshire |
| Built: | 18th century with earlier origins |
| Architecture: | Mock castle |
| Governing Body: | Privately owned |
| Designation1: | Grade I |
| Designation1 Offname: | Barn on west side of farmyard and curtain wall enclosing yard at Bollitree Castle |
| Designation1 Date: | 18 May 1953 |
| Designation1 Number: | 1296781 |
| Designation2: | Grade II* listed building |
| Designation2 Offname: | Bollitree Castle Farmhouse |
| Designation2 Date: | 18 May 1953 |
| Designation2 Number: | 1099638 |
| Designation3: | Grade II listed building |
| Designation3 Offname: | Building extending to west at south-west corner of farmyard at Bollitree Castle |
| Designation3 Date: | 17 March 1987 |
| Designation3 Number: | 1099639 |
| Designation4: | Grade II listed building |
| Designation4 Offname: | Barn on south side of farmyard at Bollitree Castle Farmhouse with arcaded farm building adjoining to south |
| Designation4 Date: | 18 May 1953 |
| Designation4 Number: | 1167693 |
| Designation5: | Grade II listed building |
| Designation5 Offname: | Dovecote 50 metres south of Bollitree Castle Farmhouse |
| Designation5 Date: | 17 March 1987 |
| Designation5 Number: | 1099640 |
Bollitree Castle is an historic site on the edge of the village of Weston under Penyard, Herefordshire, England. The site consists of Bollitree Castle farmhouse, two barns, a dovecote, a gate, and a series of mock castellated curtain walls from which the site takes its name. Bollitree Castle Farmhouse is a Grade II* listed building, one of the barns, which contains genuine medieval fragments, is listed at the highest grade, Grade I, while the other structures have their own Grade II listings.
There is architecture evidence of habitation at Bollitree Castle from medieval times. In the 15th century, the estate was owned by the Merryk family, of whom the most notable member was Richard Amerike (c. 1440–1503), a Bristol-based merchant whose name has been suggested as the origin of America although this is disputed.[1] The castle farmhouse dates from c.1700. Later in the 18th century, the major transformation of the farmhouse and the wider site was undertaken. Local tradition suggests this was carried out by a Thomas Merrick, in pursuit of a Spanish woman whom he wanted to marry and who had indicated that she wished to live in a castle, but there is little documentary evidence for this.[2] [3] Historic England records the sham castle fortifications, but posits no suggestion as to their builder's motivations.[4]
Bollitree is owned by Richard Hammond, the television presenter, who bought the castle in 2012.[5] [6] In 2023, redevelopment plans submitted by Hammond were turned down by Herefordshire County Council following objections from the Georgian Group.[7]
The main barn at Bollitree, with the bulk of the castellated curtain walls, contains some genuine medieval fragments, and is listed at Grade I. The farmhouse, which forms the main residence on the site, is listed at Grade II*. Another ancillary agricultural building, a further barn, a dovecote, and a gate in a garden wall are listed at Grade II.