The castle is more accurately described as a fortified manor house and was occupied from at least the late 12th century.

The castle lay ruinous by 1360, and has been described as "one of England's most important castles".

In 1885 the old castle, although ruined, was still described as an imposing-looking edifice.

This began in the mid-17th century and by 1694 the castle is described as "wholly ruined".

The castle was described in 1605 as a ruin, which it remains to this day.

This earlier castle has been described as "of no political or military importance".

In 1605 the former royal castle was described as a ruin.

By the 1540s the castle was described as ruinous.

The castle itself has been described as "one of the most fascinating of all European castles."

This castle was probably a ringwork and has been described as "of no political or military importance".