warwick01 Warwick Castle Warwick Castle was built on the orders of William the Conqueror in 1068 as part of a defensive chain of castles established to maintain power in his new territories. It is possible that some kind of defensive structure existed on the site in the early tenth century or before belonging to Ethelfleda, the daughter of Alfred the Great. The castle has been remodeled and strengthened over the years to the point we see it today. The first castle consisted of a huge mound of earth topped with a wooden fort. To the north of the mound was the bailey surrounded by a ditch and wooden palisade. The castle was positioned by the side of the River Avon which gave protection to the castle on that side. The wooden structure on top of the mound was replaced by a stone shell keep some of which can still be seen. The wooden palisade around the bailey has also been replaced by stone walls and towers. During the Baron's War Simon de Montfort's forces attacked and damaged the defenses. The Beauchamp family took possession of the castle shortly after and owned the castle for almost 200 years. In the late fourteenth century the several major changes were made to the castle including the great hall and domestic ranges, a water gate and improvements to the main gatehouse and the barbican in front of it. Over the centuries the castle became an important seat of power and was the home for the Earls of Warwick who played an important role in shaping the history of England. Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick was known as the 'Kingmaker' for his involvement in bringing Edward IV to the throne. The castle is now owned by the Tussaud Group and is possibly the best castle to visit in Britain due to the wide range of events and attractions that can be seen.