Leicester Castle

The Castle: The first castle at Leicester was probably built around 1070 either by William the Conqueror or by Hugh de Grandsmesnil, the first Norman lord or castellan of Leicester.

The Medieval Hall: The Great Hall and the Church of St. Mary de Castro were the largest buildings in the castle. The hall had stone walls and was originally open to the roof with no ceiling. Its roof was supported by great oak, aisle-posts with decorative carvings. Treering dating of the timbers shows that the roof was replaced in the early 1500s, but that the aisle-posts are original and date to about 1150. This suggests the hall was built by Robert le Bossu, the second earl of Leicester and founder of Leicester Abbey.