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
Aspen Institute Wye River Conference Centers Aspen Institute Wye River Conference Centers The Aspen Institute Wye River Conference Centers consists of acres overlooking the Wye River on Maryland's Eastern Shore. The site, parts of which were once known as the Wye River Plantation, was donated by Mr. and Mrs. Arthur A. Houghton, Jr. in 1979. William Paca, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and third governor of Maryland, maintained his family estate here and a monument to his memory stands near the Houghton House. Owned by The Aspen Institute, it offers three distinct, full-service executive retreats: River House, Houghton House, and Wye Woods. (The oldest