Sudeley Castle was originally a Saxon manor house, which was sited in Hopyard Field and founded by King Ethelred II, the Unready. In the 12th century, John de Sudeley fortified the manor house, founding the stone castle but it was slighted during the civil war in the reign of King Stephen. In the 15th century, Ralph Boteler, Baron Sudeley, built a large moated double quadrangular fortress with an inner court flanked on the angles by square towers, on the present site. Sadly this court, which contains Richard, duke of Gloucester's impressive range of lodgings was once again slighted after the Civil War. The outer court with the 15th century outer gatehouse, is an Elizabethan rebuild and is set at a slight angle to the inner court.