Lancaster Castle Lancaster Castle and it is distinguished neighbor, the priory chapel, crown the summit of the hill looking over the forest Lune. A Roman fort occupied the website. Following a arrival from the Normans, Lancaster grew to become area of the huge estate granted to Roger p Poitou and also the first castle is certainly going to happen to be his foundation. In 1265, the castle grew to become the main chair from the effective lords who adopted, including Thomas, ring leader from the baronial opposition to Edward II Henry, the very first palatine duke and john of Gaunt, who married his distance to the duchy. After John of Gaunt's boy grabbed the throne as Henry IV in 1399, and also the consequent union from the Duchy of Lancaster using the Crown, the castle fell into decline like a residence but continued to be the executive core Duchy. It remains greatly a functional vastle, still becoming a courthouse and prison. The present castle is basically a renovation of 1788-1823 by Thomas Harrison, made to satisfy the growing needs of the nation gaol and also the courts. The phony curtain and towers enclose a place roughly corresponding using the medieval bailey, except around the north side in which the prison juts in a large arc. In addition, a number of assize structures, particularly the semi-circular Shire Hall, projects around the west. Fortunately, a couple of important bits of the medieval castle happen to be maintained. The best could well be John of Gaunt's Gate, probably the most regal of medieval British gatehouses. It's a massive and rather austere-searching block as is appropriate for the doorway to some prison. There's a continuing machicolated parapet round the wall mind and also the well-proportioned gateway preserves its original portcullis. Semi-octagonal in shape towers that carry inner turrets above parapet level flank it. The circular Hadrian Tower forms area of the Shire Hall complex.