cambridge castle cambridge castle locally known located cambridge england originally built norman conquest control strategically important route north england played role conflicts anarchy second barons wars hugely expanded edward castle fell rapidly late medieval era stonework recycled building purposes surrounding colleges cambridge castle english civil war fell primarily county castle finally demolished new prison built castle bailey prison demolished replaced modern hall castle limited earthworks stand site open public daily offers views historic buildings city history 11th century cambridge castle castles built east england late aftermath northern campaign capture york cambridge known old roman route london york strategically significant risk rebellion initial building work conducted high sheriff later founded castle castle built bailey design existing town houses destroyed space centuries castle held norman kings civil war anarchy broke castles played key role conflict king stephen supporter empress attacked cambridge town raided castle temporarily captured stephen responded counter attack forcing retreat castle cambridge castle remained exposed stephen decided build supporting fortification provide additional protection died attacking following year leaving secure henry_ii castle adequately maintained little additional work undertaken improve castle guard system established lands cambridge granted local lords condition provide guard forces castle castle primarily hold sheriff court records king john expanded castle years work concentrated constructing new hall chamber cost war rebel barons supported captured eastern england cambridge castle fell castle returned royal control war conducted basic maintenance fortification cambridge attacked second barons war time town castle held long relieved henry forces king reinforced city defences large ditch later known cambridge castle remained basic fortification edward decided undertake major expansion works years king spent rebuilding castle stone edward castle sided circular towers corner guarded gatehouse circular stone built result major fortress latest fashion albeit completed edward stayed castle nights centuries 14th century castle allowed fall disrepair onwards little money spent maintaining property 15th century castle ruins castle hall chamber 15th century ordered buildings destroyed stone reused constructing parts castle help build chapel stonework given away mary 16th century building mansion nearby grants stone given colleges gatehouse remained intact surrounding walls described contemporaries utterly civil war broke england rival factions parliament occupied parliamentary forces year war ordered emergency work conducted repair defences resulting new added castle brick barracks constructed old bailey governor cambridge described town castle strongly fortified castle saw fighting war parliament ordered remaining fortifications damaged use centuries castle rapidly deteriorated remaining walls taken leaving gatehouse earth gatehouse remained use county 19th century run like similar prisons private business keeper castle paid equivalent prices year county came end new county prison built grounds castle bailey new prison built innovative octagonal structure influenced designs prison reformer castle gatehouse destroyed way new county court building today remaining parts medieval castle left today metre feet high rests highest point city fragments surrounding earthworks open public daily admission fee offers views historic buildings city earthworks scheduled ancient monuments site castle bailey 19th century prison occupied headquarters hall built
Cambridge Castle