confused village town castle situated sandstone prominence overlooking village recorded designated grade listed building scheduled ancient monument seat 11th century 14th century passed lancaster besieged twice civil war structure deteriorated 18th century new courthouse built site previous gatehouse castle lies ruins apart courthouse converted public house history building administration surviving evidence likely settlement prehistoric times following norman conquest established earl chester baron appointed certain built bailey castle site constructing wood excavations showed evidence bailey structure timber tower probable 12th century wooden structure replaced castle built local sandstone documentary evidence remains details building works obscure suggested john 14th baron alterations castle confirmed documentary evidence 15th baron ascended throne king castle property lancaster earliest documentary evidence building work castle shows 15th century 16th century regularly maintained new gate tower built evidence castle featured wars roses unlikely relatively obscure position survey suggests castle fallen disrepair tudor period fortress prison administrative centre court law castle designated prison catholic evidence purpose royal visits little evidence visits eminent people castle belief king john visited donated chapel certainly visited castle days november time visited civil war outbreak civil war castle garrisoned command captain appointed besieged parliamentary forces sir eventually surrendered weeks hearing approach superior royalist forces led abandoned castle held colonel second siege fortunes declined withdrew sir occupied castle held decided defences castles dismantled time achieved castle military function castle said recent history condition building continued deteriorate gatehouse remained use court 2nd earl leased site crown courthouse built site medieval gatehouse liverpool architect builder appointed carry work floor courtroom prisoners held basement courthouse fallen disrepair money found repair source money unclear court continued function walls added existing ruined walls east castle look impressive home sir walls demolished victorian era sunken garden bowling constructed castle enclosure castle leased site castle excavated present state castle continues owned site managed interior castle occasionally opened public plans accessible future castle grade listed building walls state intact possible walk completely exterior prominent position extensive views directions including lancashire hills mountains courthouse public house floor function room basement contains public house designated grade listed building
Halton Castle