Ashby de la Zouch Castle was originally a mid 12th century stone fortified manor house, founded by Alain de Parrhoet, la Zouch. In 1474, William, Lord Hastings was granted a licence to crenellate and he founded the tower and courtyard fortress. To the original hall, kitchen and solar block, he added a chapel and the keep-like Hastings Tower. Of four storey, with a seven storey rectangular wing, the narrow ground floor entrance was protected by a portcullis and running from the basement to the kitchen is an underground passage. In the 16th century, The Wilderness garden was enclosed by a brick wall, flanked by a pair of two storey angle towers. The castle was besieged during the Civil War, when it surrendered to the Parliamentarians in 1646, several of the principal buildings were slighted. 7 miles north is Melbourne Castle and 9 miles south-west is Seckington Castle.