castle castle medieval fortification england castle initially built 11th century earl surrey norman conquest england illegitimate son henry_ii acquired property marriage late 12th century son william rebuilt castle stone including prominent metre castle remained family line 14th century despite seized times crown fortification given passing royal ownership fell ruin outer wall badly affected given carey family 16th century derelict state prevented involvement english civil war 17th century remains bought duke leeds sir location novel end 19th century ruins tourist attraction despite increasing industrial character area state took management property 1980s visitor facilities felt unsuitable leading way partnership created local council state agency english_heritage local charitable trust develop castle 1990s help european_union funding english_heritage took control castle continue operate property tourist attraction castle inner outer bailey surrounded stone curtain wall defended mural towers castle inner bailey included hall solar chapel service buildings foundations survive design unique england historians consider architectural gem finest examples late norman defensive architecture comprises circular central tower massive buttresses floors included main chamber private chamber lord militarily weak design powerful symbol new social status major lord history 11th 12th centuries castle founded earl surrey taken norman conquest england rewarded father law extensive estates yorkshire norfolk sussex given manor previously owned late manor took anglo saxon settlement meaning king fortress formed large estate comprising centred anglo saxon fortified william built castle rocky spur surrounded steep banks fortification included inner bailey protected earth bank outer bailey possibly timber castle located feet river dominated positioned directly opposite village probably contained old anglo saxon castle held william son called william son william death passed william daughter husband second husband married illegitimate half brother king henry_ii arranged marriage union brought great wealth extensively rebuilt castle including constructing stone given status probably hoped reinforce perceptions new elevated rank king john visited castle 13th 15th centuries castle continued ownership family passing son william probably responsible construction new stone curtain walls inner bailey destroying defences process inner bailey william built hall service buildings inside castle stone inherited william young son minor castle initially managed mother john carried range historian terms colourful unlawful dealings ultimately charged having conducted work carried castle john ownership including castle hall solar castle passed john grandson called john married marriage broke john attempts gain divorce failed law courts earl lancaster response kidnapped thomas wife thomas seizing castle intervened dispute confirmed thomas new owner castle thomas rebelled king executed resulting edward taking control king visited castle spent marks repairing neighbouring castle edward overthrown wife isabella castle returned john john hoped pass property mistress illegitimate sons death reverted control crown gave castle son duke york controlled eldest son edward owned passed widow younger son richard lived richard york inherited castle death wars roses passed son edward seized throne bringing crown ownership 16th 19th centuries 16th century castle poor state repair royal survey carried showed gates bridge parts walls collapsed spectacular land floor fallen collapse walls consequence instability soil limestone spur mixture clay sandstone clay washed away time remaining sandstone proved extremely unstable liable crack henry_viii gave ruins carey family retained passed marriage families castle involved events english civil war 17th century escaped affected similar properties probably collapse outer walls little military value death castle surrounding manor bought duke leeds novelist sir passed castle later location novel published scott partial view property road events portrayed novel set end 12th century fictitious scott believed castle saxon origin view shared 19th century commentators writer able praise picturesque view castle antiquarian commented concern changing character location particular factories growing new railway line atmosphere industrial works created duke leeds died leaving nephew baron remained good condition apparent repairs needed antiquarian recommended urgent work repair stonework finances allowed urged roof wooden floors limited repairs subsequently approved trustees lord clark colleague expressed concerns protect visitors routinely climbed funded reported spent trustees castle ruins including construction lodge outer bailey castle keeper completed improvements 20th 21st centuries castle bought local council 1940s placed castle retained ownership land sets archaeological excavations carried site exposing foundations buildings inner bailey examining options future visitor facilities government agency english_heritage took management property condition visitor services unsatisfactory industrial character surrounding area tourists response english_heritage formed way agreement local charity designed generate new employment region agreement trust manage site english heritage maintain historic fabric castle council construct new visitors centre new controversial visitor centre built style collection tents floors roof european_union funding attempt limit erosion castle stonework visitor numbers following investments fell far short expectations settled year slightly level early 1980s external facilities age funding shortages led new audio visual effects turned save money discussions partners future castle took place relations broke english_heritage resumed direct management castle castle closed million programme renovations funded new visitors centre visitor facilities constructed castle protected law grade listed building ancient monument architecture inner outer castle outer inner bailey approximately feet feet respectively castle entered outer bailey rectangular enclosure protected earthworks contained castle stables service facilities northern outer bailey replaced earth causeway linked inner bailey oval inner bailey formed counter natural hill producing bank largely destroyed protective ditch early 13th century curtain wall roughly dressed stone feet thick feet high sections repaired wall defended mural towers southern western sides survive reasonably intact strengthened buttresses northern edge bases walls towers spreading weight broadly metres deep places protected link gatehouse inner bailey complete additional corner turret remains collapse curtain wall visible ditch buildings constructed inside inner bailey wall similar rough stonework curtain wall foundations remain today south west corner solar block containing solar chambers north hall pushed awkward corner curtain wall feet size originally probably built storeys high initially constructed central fireplace added outer wall later 13th century alongside hall kitchen cellar south east inner bailey castle chapel feet positioned north east inner bailey important medieval survival historian considered finest keeps england historian describes architectural gem finest examples late norman defensive architecture comprises central circular tower feet diameter large solid buttresses projecting form design unique england limestone metres tall walls feet thick places floors ground floor serves basement vaulted stone support chamber floor accessed upper floors roof walk probably covered defended current concrete stairs modern original medieval timber stone incorporated castle doors basement contained drawn 1st floor hole stone floor designed private tower residence result designed accommodate different households layout simpler seen contemporary castle example 2nd 3rd floor served main chamber lord private chamber forming vertical sequence rooms vaulted chapel leading private chamber cut buttresses castle dark lack natural light main chamber large window foot inches feet inches deep allow thickness walls carved seats sat alongside window similar window placed private chamber relatively advanced period fireplace main chamber exceptionally large decorated stone columns carved capitals castle probably similar castles owned warren responsible development france similar built castle north england owned design poor military perspective central circular tower defensive advantages buttresses introduced vulnerable corners stonework arrow slots permit defenders fire attackers designed primarily military defence intended reinforce new social status
Conisbrough Castle