castle norman castle english county gloucestershire castle noted huge gatehouse guards entrance originally built royal administrative centre 13th century castle favourite hunting lodge king john primary centre england manufacture large numbers required medieval warfare castle transferred times royal favourites 14th 15th centuries slowly declined appearance importance primarily court notorious prison conditions documented prison reformer following local riots parliamentary investigation 1830s reforms 19th century brought end castle use prison extensive renovation turn 20th century allowed castle taken remains role today owned english_heritage open public castle classed grade listed building scheduled monument architecture castle located spur dominating position western edge castle predominantly built local old red sandstone limestone castle site surrounded filled moat garden moat originally wet fed spring underneath moat castle collapsed demolished 18th century originally square norman design size built clay stone intact approximately tall resembled keeps castle white castle similar period design region protected stone curtain wall survives today forming castle bailey irregular plan suggests built site earlier originally small round tower protecting south east corner probably gateway south wall alongside demolished buildings included forge buildings north east bailey set medieval domestic buildings stand north west bailey including hall solar chapel originally providing accommodation castle constable king buildings restored 19th century current condition features including hall range fireplace capitals appear date 13th century hall solar form storey building wide alongside 14th century chapel incorporates later 17th century adjustments windows end domestic range famous horn chimney forest warden horn symbol castle authority buildings include sunken pit prison graffiti dated use purpose time gatehouse castle described magnificent fine example royal work period massive structure large shaped towers flanking wide gate passage long linked large room sort gatehouse termed gatehouse gatehouse massive size defences inner outer sides building gatehouse sort built castle examples exist castle uniquely gatehouse protected sets built slots installed notable feature existence smaller defend passage gatehouse originally taller today entrance included removed 20th century base gatehouse defended large spurs design feature characteristic castles including unlike castles depends solid octagonal square based interacting form circular towers gatehouse defended upper windows rear upper floors designed high status guests windows provided adequate light chambers south east gatehouse relatively modern having rebuilt past collapse history 11th 12th centuries castle appears date norman times village norman period area acquired earl built number castles region including appear built castle site revolt son resulted village taken possession royal constructed royal mandate precise date uncertain son castle administrative centre location castle placed english border area little welsh presence invasion appears established purposes royal governance protect west south west include castle devon cornwall regional royal administrative centres alternative view sees intended protect estuary south royal castles bristol gloucester early castle bailey design probably wood miles partner pain strengthened hold welsh border years henry king death england descended civil war anarchy factions loyal king stephen fought control country killed early fighting miles declared favour took control castle right empress confirmed miles earl formally granted castle miles castle escaped worst fighting anarchy miles son continued hold castle reign henry_ii empress son confrontation king resulted removed taken royal ownership henry_ii rebuilt castle replacing older wooden structure stone royal forests early medieval period subject special royal jurisdiction forest law harsh arbitrary matter purely king forests expected supply king hunting grounds raw materials goods money hunting important king major centre thanks plentiful supply trees making iron deposits limestone stone region iron goods constructed locally stored castle shipped royal locations quantities produced substantial example henry_ii received axes picks nails richard took crusade constable wide ranging responsibilities forest including managing rights privileges iron workers exercised miners castle 13th century king john enjoyed regular hunting forest november castle base trips king entertained welsh lord castle royal interest resulted building works substantial expenditure spent years stone curtain wall replaced earlier wooden complete tower gateway inside bailey number buildings suitable use king lodge constructed wooden chapel built castle castle expansion funded increased taxes iron working areas end john reign castle mature form charter forest passed worst royal jurisdiction forest laws allow wide range fines imposed local peasants broke numerous place protect wildlife trees forest courts held castle imposed relatively large number fines illegal wood cutting period castle began prison shortly partially forest pay required fines king john death primary centre english quarrel manufacture important military advance older short bow favoured weapon time richard needed supply royal forces primarily built tower london local forest provide raw materials national centre quarrel manufacture arrived castle began production operations forge built bailey production level day period achieved men like able produce day barrels shipped kingdom large quantities iron castle sent build siege engines manufacturing capability castle gave king distinct advantage potential enemies supply arms castle threatened welsh royal power period centre arms manufacture castle secure new defensive ditch repaired walls new chapel castle garrisoned royal troops uprising suggesting considerable military value time indicator military importance castle surrounding forest fee year paid constable castle par larger castles nottingham edward massive gatehouse built protect castle entrance including special protection speculation royal architect responsible building work occurred cost reason king extending castle time unclear castle relatively far welsh border particular risk attack popular explanation given quantities weapons money stored property time gatehouse designed improve internal security castle presence additional support explanation old wooden chapel rebuilt stone extension castle wall constructed cost called followed line old gave additional protection 14th 17th centuries castle remained important location reign key region wars king favourites noble factions period roger constable castle early years edward reign royal favourite visited castle times extensive renovation rooms quarters occurring time spent work substantial sum supplanted king favour younger fought king war war edward placed marches control elder taking particular responsibility appointed keeper confiscated castles marches violence began break region response harsh rule deputy attacked july way castle london eyes torn arms legs broken records money stolen edward deposed shortly edward wife isabella france isabella set expanding lands victory took castle royal castles possession isabella overthrown son castle reverted crown end 14th century england saw increasing conflict rival factions passed forth senior nobility playing major conflict castle initially given king edward son thomas duke gloucester fall thomas favour uprising thomas received life grant castle reward serving richard thomas fall power castle given henry son duke duke close friend acquired forest dean rewarded castle support faction wars roses executed earl took castle died battle briefly held restored castle widow 16th anne death castle passed control time slow period decline years similar royal castles region including bristol gloucester minor improvements including light windows added internal buildings 15th century extensive chapel 17th century extent castles successfully converted luxurious dwellings james charles castle traditionally granted time english civil war castle held 4th earl friend king sided parliament played little conflict restoration return charles_ii power castle removed given instead henry lord life henry death duke granted property disgrace duke years later castle changed hands subsequent owners modest figures english public life case previous years 18th 19th centuries 18th century buildings inside bailey knocked valuable materials including lead roof recycled partially collapsed remainder falling victorian writers blamed progress time theft stones local peasants collapse famous horn chimney moved original location west building whilst achieving picturesque status ruined area georgian visitors noted beautiful romantic scenery surrounds ruins castle principally prison court operating authority constable forest law originally established remaining buildings inside bailey converted courtroom jury room west gatehouse jail prisoners primarily prison england act individuals unable pay debts fines detained prison indefinitely encourage payment conditions castle prison increasingly notorious visit prison reformer research edition book state prisons published years later howard found prison greatly repair inmates locked single room exercise best year fresh water financial support graffiti stone walls castle jail includes inscription prisoner period great space weary place extensive riots led intervention military dispersed order restored range complaints levied enforcement local laws miners metal workers attacks castle locals degree violence case greater act parliament followed establishing number commissioners investigated local practices recent events castle prison castle came particular scrutiny emerged cases brought court castle extremely small sums debt prices increasingly unacceptable victorian eyes penalty prices charged case making process extremely local poor prosecuted way investigation found keeper prison hold inmates time appointed constable income charging prisoner week use beds prison public funding prisoners depended friends relatives food donations original parishes castle prison found bad condition commissioners noted prison window foot wide open door outer end passage hole considered necessary air dark winding leads hole going building inaccessible cleaning years ago drain moat air draws passage room water prisoners liberty obliged person prison reforms followed including improving conditions castle facilities visitors continued note castle like worn shoe role constable transformed chief commissioner woods forests court jury rooms turned local school occasional courts attachment held chapel castle retained function prison remaining inmates transferred prison today gatehouse buildings inside bailey youth moat partly turned garden castle classed grade listed building scheduled monument site remains open public managed english_heritage
St Briavels Castle