Hastings Castle was possibly a pre-Conquest collegiate foundation and an earth and timber post-Conquest fortress. After landing with his army at Pevensey in 1066, William Duke of Normandy strengthened the pre-existing earthwork defences on the rocky promontory. In 1090, Robert, count of Eu, founded the Collegiate Church of St Mary, in the Castle, which was dissolved in 1547. The Ladies' Parlour is part of an Iron Age fort which occupied the whole promontory and it's western half became the late 12th century stone castle. The rock-cut tunnels to the north-west of the mound are Norman storage chambers and in 1172 a great tower was erected. The curtain wall flanked by a north-eastern twin-towered gatehouse are late 12th century and the castle remained in royal hands until 1331. Erosion by the sea undermined the south side of the bailey and by the 15th century the castle had been abandoned. To the east, a wall pierced by Seagates once protected the Old Town of Hastings. 7 miles north-west is Battle Abbey and 15 miles west is Herstmonceux Castle.