Belvoir Castle was originally a Norman earthwork motte and bailey fortress, founded by Robert de Todeni, le Fundeur. In 1267, Robert de Ros founded the stone castle, when King Henry III granted him a Royal licence to crenellate his place of Belver. Its layout is depicted on a medieval seal, showing the motte supporting a quadrangular three storey keep encased by a wall, all battlemented. Dominating the Vale of Belvoir, in 1461 during the Wars of the Roses, this Lancastrian fortress was partially dismantled and left to decay. The castle was rebuilt in the 16th century by the Manners family but it was slighted after the Civil War. Rebuilt again from 1800, a major fire in 1816 destroyed all but the outer walls but by 1830 the castle had been given its dramatic Gothic revival reconstruction. 7 miles north-west at Aslockton is Cranmer's Mound and 15 miles north-east is Heydour Castle.