Situated on top of a grassy mound, Pickering Castle offer a splendid view of the surrounding countryside. The stone ruins consist of two baileys with a conical motte and a curtain wall with three towers. The original castle was built from earth and timber by William the Conqueror and later rebuilt in stone. At various periods in history the castle served as a royal hunting lodge, a law court and prison, and an administrative centre. The site was abandoned from the mid 1600s until 1926, when English Heritage took it over.