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dedicated to St Mary Magdalen OS ref Church SN 022180 Castle SN 022182 |
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| Wiston was another medieval borough which maintained an influence out of all proportion to its size as it was a Parliamentary borough and had its own Member of Parliament - one of the classic 'rotten boroughs' of the school text books. Over the centuries the castle and the church have stood side by side as opposing medieval symbols of secular and spiritual power. Built by Wizo the Fleming in the early 12th century, this large motte and bailey castle with a shell keep crowning the mound, is open to the public. The most conspicuous feature of the church is the tower, but this by no means the only medieval feature which can be seen. Today, only the colonies of rooks building their nests interrupt the silence of the place. Nevertheless, this castle saw more bloodshed than any other in the county. Nearby, at Colby Moor, the Parliamentarians routed their Loyalist opponents at the most decisive local encounter of the Civil War. | ||||