medieval bailey castle market town area norfolk england castle probable 11th century norman called red castle replaced 12th century larger bailey castle town new castle largely destroyed henry_ii huge second largest man mound england remained intact recognised scheduled monument forms local park remains known variously castle hill history 11th century 11th century largest towns england concentrated east south east country especially important settlement period second largest town comes ford key point ancient way important international trading hub centre pottery production earth timber fort built site iron age period left decay late saxon era town protected enclosure surrounded town castle site red castle probably built shortly norman conquest england earl surrey castle design positioned line defensive saxon ditch process cutting local church inside town building local cemetery 12th century town controlled earl norfolk decided build new bailey castle positioning guard town local crossing way heart castle huge artificial mound sunk deep surrounding ditch protected north site sets complex probably original iron age fortifications site high base ditch wide base second largest man mound england castle probably included large timber rectangular bailey fortification approximately stretched away exploiting iron age fortifications new castle dominated saxon town castle earthworks built local chalk ditches dug fortification provided mound local tradition suggests earth instead nearby town castle constructed hand workers digging wooden probably estimated taken man days effort build family continued build grip region taking advantage powerful castles roger son played prominent role civil war years anarchy king stephen strongholds appears likely stone wall built bailey time recent work speculated stone erected site end war henry_ii took throne attempted restore royal power region henry seized castles ultimately returned retained use joined revolt henry sons seizing castle henry forces captured castle destroyed fortifications mound proved effectively 13th 20th centuries declined 12th century castle rapidly disused late use said surrounded stone wall east bank outer bailey destroyed group trees planted near mound interest continued origins castle period forgotten local medieval tradition suggested mound devil completed victorian period academics concluded mound celtic norman origin late victorian scholars correctly concluding norman period likely traditions claimed mound covered palace filled treasure silver bells archaeological investigations red castle early 1960s revealed design date castle site 21st century today owned local authority forms castle bailey known military parade site scheduled monument
Thetford Castle