Still existing, albeit reduced in height, is an earth mound (motte) upon which a wooden castle, properly called a keep, was built.
The lower-ground bailey, consisting of a wooden wall and ditch, inside of which was accommodation for the garrison along with other buildings, including stables, is long gone.
The wooden fortifications were soon replaced by stone, with the castle being expanded over the centuries despite partial demolition on the orders of Henry II after being used by his rebel sons in their revolt of 1173-4.
Just about all that survives is the Great Hall, disfigured by a modern facade, and Turret Gateway.
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| Approaching the two-storey Turret Gateway from the outside - it had a third storey, but that was destroyed in an election riot of 1832 |
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| The groove (centre-right) shows where the portcullis used to be raised and lowered |
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| Turret Gateway, looking from inside the castle |
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