England–Wales border after Harold's death at the Battle of Hastings, Wales was again divided without a leader to resist the Normans. Immediately after the Norman conquest of England, King William installed one of his most trusted confidants, William FitzOsbern, as Earl of Hereford. By 1071 he had started the building of Chepstow Castle, the first castle in Britain built of stone, near the mouth of the Wye. It served as a base from which the Normans continued to expand westward into south Wales, establishing a castle at Caerleon and extinguishing the Welsh kingdom of Gwent. William also installed Roger de Montgomerie at
Staunton on Wye Staunton on Wye Staunton-on-Wye is a relatively unpopulated civil parish in North Herefordshire, which is perhaps one of the most uninhabited locations of England. The parish of Staunton, which includes Moorhampton and Bredwardine, is a key player in trading in Herefordshire. The population of this parish taken at the 2011 census was 213. Staunton was inhabited until 1089 A.D. The parish church dates from around 1190-1200, when King Richard I was on crusades, and several of Herefordshire's other churches are thought to have been founded. The nave has round-headed doorways with a small lancet. Some of the windows date from