Somerton Castle is a late 13th century stone quadrangular fortress, founded by Anthony Bek, bishop of Durham. In 1281, King Edward I granted him a licence to crenellate his manor but by 1309 the castle had been given to King Edward II. The fortification is encased by a ditch and consisted of ranges of buildings around a central courtyard, with round towers on the angles. Repairs and alterations were made in the mid to late 13th century but by 1601, the castle was utterly defaced and fallen almost down to the ground. Three towers, the south front and part of the curtain wall remain, along with a later adjoining farmhouse. To the south is a large platform, with an enclosing wide moat and a high counterscarp bank, which also extends alongside part of the inner ditch. 9 miles north is Lincoln Castle and 12 miles south-west is Newark Castle.