castle castle major medieval castle situated english county historically reorganisation adjacent river_thames established 11th century bailey design anglo saxon grew historian described powerful royal castles 12th 13th centuries held civil war years anarchy survived multiple taken centuries luxurious castle royalty immediate family abandoned royal residence henry_viii castle fell decline english civil war eventually deliberately destroyed captured parliamentary forces long siege site subsequently left relatively undeveloped limited remains castle walls considerable earthworks open public history 11th century important regional town overlooking key crossing point river_thames prosperous mint town defended anglo saxon town wall prior norman invasion controlled town supported william invasion entertained king arrived immediately end initial invasion king set establishing control constructing key castles royal castles windsor castle later transferred royal hands built oxford castle probably built robert married daughter ultimately inherited father law lands wooden castle built north east corner town taking advantage old anglo saxon close river overlooking ford required substantial demolition work room new bailey structure unusually appears castle constructed high status housing probably belonging today metres feet metres feet high robert endowed sixteen strong college priests castle named 12th century castle passed robert son law brien married robert daughter miles died brien important supporter henry son duke brittany probably strengthened castle stone produced powerful fortification including shell curtain wall bailey combined extensive earthworks described historian powerful royal castles 12th 13th centuries death henry political situation england stable stephen england laying claim throne brien originally considered supporter stephen travelled england brien announced allegiance joining forces miles gloucester supporters south west castle easterly stronghold empress faction closest base london line attacked stephen forces depending perspective stephen attacked castle initially intending walls considered assault brien brought considerable supplies contemporaries believed castle survive siege years need stephen changed mind putting counter castles contain road bristol continuing west year miles gloucester possibly acting orders robert gloucester struck east destroying counter castles outside civil war stephen rapidly descended campaign castles like played critical role efforts sides secure fall oxford stephen fled importance castle continued grow time brien established notorious prison castle called brien brien close efforts extract money resources surrounding region nobleman stephen royal steward high profile prisoners kept contemporary reported cries tortured prisoners castle disturbed inhabitants town space castle brien forces houses town taken use knights stephen attempt seize unable castle despite building powerful counter castle east opposite building castles west south returned larger forces counter castle building overlooking bridge settled forces castle brien supported miles son roger trapped castle attempted break blockade success castle garrison running low food roger deal stephen allowing leave castle followers henry empress son future henry_ii intervened marching forces relieve castle placing stephen counter castles siege king stephen marched oxford forces confronted meadows outside castle result peace deal called treaty leading permanent treaty winchester ultimately bring end civil war install henry king following stephen death brien children chose enter monastery surrendered castle henry end conflict end 12th century castle closely associated king john granted town richard john seized castle revolt forced return reclaimed king john extensive use castle reinforcing fortifications substantial garrison protect 13th 15th centuries richard 1st earl cornwall formally granted castle main residence richard lived considerable style spent substantial sums property building new hall luxurious fittings richard election king romans brought end use property castle embroiled second barons war seized castle victory battle royal family time moving secure reclaimed end conflict continued cornwall luxurious home rest century gave castle royal favourite young wife isabella france large sums spent property edward continued use castle royal prison holding enemies fall power isabella husband early headquarters following invasion england son ultimately settled castle new title duke cornwall sons king castle continued county jail complaints number able escape cost maintaining castle local revenues challenging end 14th century additional royal revenues required ongoing work required nonetheless deposed castle fortified good condition forming historian calls formidable obstacle richard enemies able host royal government fled london castle played little role wars roses henry_viii final time appears fallen royal residence 16th 19th centuries castle fell decline 16th century separated queen mary site stripped lead building materials use windsor castle antiquarian described castle sore jail continued use period albeit suffering inmates held nobles onwards returned crown charles gave queen maria castle valuable surrounding meadow land fisheries english civil war broke supporters charles parliament king parliament maintaining capitals oxford london respectively thames valley critical war zone royalist town garrison established prevent advance oxford north west colonel appointed governor king instructed castle results later year surrounding thames towns reading fallen parliamentary forces unsuccessfully attacked town castle general placed castle siege year weeks oxford fell parliamentary forces castle finally surrendered july generous terms defenders risk civil conflict continued parliament decided necessary slight damage military use castle remained surprisingly powerful fortress continuing threat fresh uprising occur castle virtually razed ground operation brick building continued prison 18th century large house built bailey followed gothic mansion house site today mansion abandoned rising costs demolished allowing castle declared scheduled monument grade listed building castle grounds including remains sections castle wall hill open public archaeological research project run conducted sequence excavations aiming better understand historical transition anglo saxon town period norman castle
Wallingford Castle