Rockingham Castle is an 11th century earthwork motte and bailey fortress, founded by King William I. Built in the Norman layout, of two baileys with the motte in-between, it was a Royal fortress for 450 years. By the end of the 11th century, King William II had founded the stone castle, when adding a shell keep to the large motte and encasing the inner bailey with a curtain wall. Flanking the remains of the curtain wall, is an impressive Edwardian two storey, twin-tower gatehouse built in 1270. After 1485, the castle fell into disrepair and Edward Watson, converted the lodgings into a Tudor house. At the start of the Civil War, it was a Royalist stronghold but it was taken by Lord Grey of Groby and the walls and keep were slighted in 1646. 9 miles south-east is Benefield Castle and 14 miles west is Kibworth Harcourt Castle.