DescriptionA substantial masonry castle constructed from 1277, presently overlain by a hotel which was originally a private mansion (nprn 27874) and incorporated into 19th century garden landscaping (nprn 266366).
The castle consisted of a strong, roughly pentagonal, moated court, c.94m NE-SW by 60m, defined by curtain walls and rounded mural towers, with a twin-towered gate facing south-east away from the unwalled medieval and later town, with a second, subsidiary, similarily defined court, c.52mNE-SW by 60m, adjoining on the south-west.
Following a siege in 1646, the castle was largely demolished. Remains of five of the towers and curtain walls, as well as the castle ditch, survive.
RCAHMW, 18 May 2005.