large medieval castle england built henry castle played prominent civil war anarchy barons war castle significantly extended stone final plan castle remains uncertain england besieged castle following disagreement siege lasted weeks involved army soldiers equipment drawn england surrender castle king ordered destruction partially 17th century english civil war castle remained ruin urban expansion 19th century houses built property today stands forming archaeological park built site history early history probably built henry town overlooking river great castle constructed inside town older anglo saxon streets destroyed diverted room leaving permanent mark formal grid system castle built bailey design probably smaller later castle consisting inner bailey early 12th century castle controlled royal son hugh helped conquer england contemporaries described castle time completely immense bank ditch wall strong high strengthened strong simon died king stephen agreed simon daughter marry hugh castle given hugh exchange stephen giving miles honours gifts miles children simon brother declared castle miles refused hand hugh civil war broke england king stephen resulting period chaos known anarchy uncle david scotland invaded england support claim declared support stephen king decided retake castle marching north stephen formed army castle miles gained advance warning attack took considerable supplies preparing long siege stephen unable storm castle left force command hugh submission whilst marched north tackle scots invasion intervened attempt produce negotiated solution henry reached agreement weeks castle finally surrendered garrison allowed leave peacefully castle handed king deal struck miles henry appears left surrounding estates hands miles returned retook castle details available achieved miles subsequently supported empress earl chester temporarily king attacked took town unable castle continued controlled miles death years later end war attacked henry_ii final year conflict marched documentary evidence shows damage town time historians divided castle besieged time mid medieval period early tensions grew king john rebel faction barons lead rebel barons attempted unsuccessful turned castle castle attack moved south london held time loyalty came question rebelled john key anglo norman leader loyal john resisted seized john return john gave honour practical terms castle unclear gave role ownership castle war continued took control castles whilst continuing hold death king john war turned rebel barons royalist faction including able restore son young power england war headquarters expanded considerably resulting described major destroyed neighbouring churches space new bailey stone castle exact form castle expansion remains uncertain castle appears western edge running rear modern high street northern edge running modern roads castle new outer inner bailey inner bailey south east corner protected internal ditch stone lined stone lined ditches lay castle new built brown suspects new probably shell tower similar built stone lined ditches built unusual england closest equivalent found castle castle facing river great hall inner bailey middle feet wide feet long possibly large stone gatehouse positioned outer bailey wall mound north east corner castle probably supported large tower siege decided returned original owner increasingly frustrated refusal matters came head imprisoned royal judge hearing law cases refused release judge henry army supported church form archbishop_of_canterbury advanced left castle eighty men charge brother refused surrender king probably hoping castle held long efforts convince pope iii intervene henry succeed archbishop william siege began siege required huge resources siege engines brought lincoln built site timber ropes london cambridge southampton hides london labourers gathered relevant miners forest dean bolts ordered depot castle provinces bolts known ordered king local trees cut stone begun provide ammunition siege engines tents king sent london supplies luxury foods wine king total henry wage bill siege came uncertain exactly large henry army potentially men present time support siege instructed bishops man hectares acres land owned levied special tax churches estates resources henry erected number siege engines castle probable set east castle placed west attack north south sides siege castles established observe occupants castle william confident brother return relieve siege pope intervene held despite artillery attacks losses royal army began mount chronicler suggests seven knights soldiers labourers killed siege dragged finally fell sequence attacks royal forces captured stormed outer bailey seizing castle supplies taking considerable losses miners operating protection cat gained access inner bailey collapsing wall finally august miners attacked lighting fire walls cracking stone filling building smoke female members household including wife released royal standard raised tower day william garrison surrendered discussion ensued fate garrison near contemporary accounts suggest prisoners asked archbishop assistance declined henry male members garrison hanged knights agreed join military order days fall castle pope wrote letter demanding henry cease campaign intervention occurred far late use convinced surrender fall castle handed remaining castles going exile shortly noted siege castle remarkable castle garrison able hold concentrated military resources kingdom impressive weeks argues fall castle concluded triumph central government previously forces local barons later history 19th centuries siege ordered castle dismantled labourers filled ditches height stone walls forbidden rebuild castle instead built house inner bailey churches rebuilt stone castle sudden availability cheap stone led town streets local tradition suggests stone bridge great bridge built stone castle castle site described void plot old enclosed walls derelict medieval period antiquarian visited site 16th century noted castle clean early 17th century produced map showing fragment bailey wall standing vacant site outbreak english civil war sided parliament town temporarily captured rhine castle duration war probable wooden fort prison built remains defended man garrison war bowling green 19th century north east tower castle turned building local militia unit began spread eastwards late 19th century castle desirable property housing parts destroyed way construction cottages modern period 21st centuries today base survives castle feet high feet wide scheduled monument archaeological work conducted develop better understanding history castle excavations difficult urban nature site excavations established broad form castle supplemented work phase excavations following investigations archaeological park built castle site forming centre mixed use development restaurants apartments park incorporated castle lime rediscovered foundations hall discovered castle
Bedford Castle