Leicester - Leicester Castle

Leicester Castle was built shortly after the Normans arrived in England, probably in 1068. It would have been a motte and bailey castle. The remains of the motte still exist today in the Castle Gardens. Later the castle was rebuilt in stone.

Little remains of the castle though there are still some structures remaining.

The castle gate still exists providing clues as to what the structure would have been like.

 Our guide warned us that we would probably be underwhelmed by the castle itself.

The sections of the castle that still exist are inside the present structure on the site. The building is part of de Montford University.

John of Gaunt inherited the castle when the brother of his wife, Blanche, died. After Blanche died John of Gaunt is thought to have used Leicester Castle as a base when he visited his then mistress, Katherine, at Kettlethorpe.

Also part of the castle buildings is the Church of St Mary de Castro which was built 900 years ago.

The Castle Gardens have only recently been established though no doubt the castle would have had gardens at some time in its history.