castle norman bailey castle castle built obtain control key route london norman conquest england 11th century robert william half brother probably responsible managing construction castle owner castle surrounded protective earthworks deer park hunting castle new administrative centre anglo saxon settlement reorganised subsequent kings granted castle castle substantially expanded century probably castle besieged civil war king john rebellious barons supported france successfully captured future attacked siege engines days forcing garrison surrender royal forces subsequent year given richard earl cornwall beginning long association later richard redeveloped castle residence centre administration developed castle 14th century gave son edward black prince expanded hunting grounds castle hold royal prisoners including france rival english throne late 15th century castle increasingly fell decline century ruins unsuitable royal use stone taken castle build houses buildings town castle destroyed construction london birmingham railway 1830s result building britain receive statutory protection parliament castle passed government control maintained tourist attraction english_heritage history castle built norman conquest england defeated battle hastings advanced coast north suggest surrendered william william probably ordered construction castle proceeding south london strategically significant lay key route london actual construction work probably overseen william half brother robert owned time writing book castle located slightly away main road additional space earthworks involved positioned benefit natural springs running hill bailey design foot high bailey foot foot acres acres double bank ditch ran castle sets ditches filled water total wider earthworks occupy acres specialised ditch recorded employed maintained castle large deer park owned crown established castle provide hunting grounds castle carefully positioned park overlooked maintained alongside castle old anglo saxon centre moved site result anglo saxon settlement shifted area called castle mills essential grinding flour present robert son william rebelled henry castle confiscated henry granted chancellor travelling castle henry chancellor rode nearby hill overly excited view ahead fell horse dying injuries castle subsequently given henry_ii thomas chancellor extended castle accommodate large household fell favour castle confiscated king henry_ii liked subsequently extensively century castle rebuilt stone probably shell outer stone wall bailey divided wall form inner outer bailey gatehouse led town meeting henry_ii officially recognised surrounding settlement town king john castle lands forming second wife isabella john entrusted castle rebuilt town died castle passed son political tensions england began rise potential conflict king john alliance rebel barons opposed rule began look likely early king john installed trusted german mercenary called charge reviewed defensive arrangements april civil war broke later year initially rebels hampered lack equipment particular siege engines future crossed joined rebel cause bringing heavy siege equipment king john died october december louis besieged castle prince deployed siege engines probably attacked castle repeatedly days throwing termed stones defenders 13th century set earthworks built outside walls firing platforms having strong defence garrison allowed surrender leave weapons armour forces loyal young defeated rebels following year castle returned royal hands subsequent years closely associated cornwall brother richard earl cornwall inherited castle mother isabella permanent richard favourite castle partially close london richard impressive storey tower built property restored rest castle nearby complained building works required carry timber local trade goods badly affected castle central administration richard submit annual financial reports town rich result growing wool trade richard died castle passed son castle passed edward found castle apparently poor condition second wife margaret gave royal favourite earl cornwall married edward attendance fell power john edward second son took possession new earl cornwall john died reclaimed survey showed need substantial repairs edward improved windsor castle main property investing considerable sums son edward black prince created duke cornwall extensive use castle formed new black prince took advantage aftermath extend castle park acres including woodland pasture stretching eventually producing park covering acres castle hold france taken prisoner black prince fell ill following campaigning france retired died inherited castle initially use given favourite fall power exile lived castle deposed richard property rival applicants throne period later famous oversaw renovation work castle role clerk owned castle making use overthrow confiscated came power wars roses late 15th century castle occupied mother castle increasingly abandoned death time antiquarian visited century unsuitable royal use estate including ruins park leased elizabeth sir nominal rent red rose year stone castle build local school buildings late 16th century castle park reached acres size broken decades acres english civil war largely passed castle apparently playing conflict wider estate castle separated leased duke remained direct control surrounding estates park sold altogether agreed rent castle nominal rent 1830s plans drawn build new london birmingham railway engineering perspective ideal route railway ran site castle concerns need protect ancient monuments buildings growing years local estate keen protect local view buildings castle ultimately specifically protected act sanctioned railway forcing track route valley floor building britain receive statutory protection development way nonetheless route required track pass outer fortifications castle major engineering operation carried destroying castle gatehouse process 20th 21st centuries acquired cornwall inner ditch subsequently drained water 1950s 21st century operated tourist attraction english_heritage historian considers best surviving bailey castles england castle protected law ancient monument
Berkhamsted Castle