Tadcaster Castle is a late 11th century earthwork motte and baileys fortress, founded by William de Percy. The damaged motte slopes steeply to the north and to the west, are the remains of a wide ditch and a small inner bailey. In the 12th century, castle was abandoned and the southern outer bailey built over but its layout can be seen the surrounding street patterns. During the Civil War, the castle was re-fortified with earthwork bastions and cannon emplacements. A low rampart with a small mound, on the north side of the inner bailey, is probably part of there remains. 2 miles north-west at Newton Kyme is Kyme Castle and 4 miles south-west at Aberford is Hazlewood Castle.