The striking, twin-towered gatehouse, plus some defensive Civil War earthworks, are all that remain of this 14th Century castle once owned by Geoffrey Chaucer’s son, Thomas. During the Civil War (1642-46), it was seized by Royalist forces after the first battle of Newbury. King Charles’s attempts to relieve a siege begun in July1644 by Parliamentarian forces were frustrated by the second battle of Newbury in October. The Royalist garrison remained defiant for a further 18 months but was allowed to leave after an honourable surrender. In 1646 Parliament voted to demolish the castle.