Discover Medieval Chester

Richard Farrier, Keeper of the King's Horses

Richard Farrier looked after the horses of Edward I at the castle in 1283.

Chester castle hosted visits from English kings in the medieval period, including Edward I, during his campaigns against Wales in the late thirteenth century. But the king also needed ordinary people to keep the castle working and take care of his needs. Richard Farrier was keeper of the king’s horses at Chester in the summer of 1283. Records show that he purchased cut grass for 20 horses, including that of the queen, and also for 10 ‘great’ horses arriving from Caernafon. He bought horseshoes, bridles, surcingles and long ropes of hemp to make reins. 12 ells of canvas costing 2s and 6d were bought to make two saddlecloths and two head-stalls, one set for the king’s destrier and the second for a dark brown horse. Lights were bought for the stables, as well as horse-salve. Local townsmen are named in the records as suppliers – the horse-salve came from St Werburgh’s.