Melbourne
Castle was originally a royal fortified manor house, founded by King John. In
1311, Robert de Holand founded the stone castle, when he was granted a licence
to crenellate but sadly the only remains, are a fragment of one wall and the buried
foundations of rooms and a semi-circular tower. The castle with its square gatehouse,
was a large and impressive multi-towered structure but it was never fully completed.
In 1461 during the Wars of the Roses, this Lancastrian fortress was partially
dismantled and left to decay, being eventually demolished in the 17th century.
7 miles south is Ashby-de-la-Zouch Castle and 12
miles west is Tutbury Castle.
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