Midhurst Castle was originally an 11th century earth and timber ringwork fortress, founded by Roger Montgomery. In the mid 12th century, Geldwin fitz Cana founded the stone castle when encasing his manor house, with an oval curtain wall. In the 13th century, the castle was only occupied occasionally and by the 14th century it had been abandoned, for a new manor house called la Coudraye. The foundations of a keep or tower, a hall house, a chapel and a range of buildings remain and a small break in the curtain wall indicates the site of the gateway.