White Castle is an 11th century earthwork motte and baileys fortress, founded by William fitz Osborn. In the late 12th century, King Henry II founded the stone castle, when encasing the motte with a curtain wall, flanked by a small square keep. In the 13th century, the entire castle was extensively remodelled by Lord Edward, when the defences were turned, through 180 degrees. The keep was demolished and the high curtain wall flanked by four huge D-shaped towers and an impressive twin-towered gatehouse. The large outer ward, with its enclosing curtain wall and ditch, is flanked by rectangular and D-shaped towers and a twin-towered gatehouse. The motte and the crescent-shaped hornwork, which was originally a barbican, are encased by a wide stone revetted moat, with dams to control the water level. 4 miles east is Newcastle and 8 miles south-west is Abergavenny Castle.