Like many in England, this castle has a complex history that mirrors the turbulent evolution of the country around it. Originally a royal Saxon manor, it became a the Crevecoeur family castle under Normal rule. By 1278 it became a royal palace for Edward I. The castle fell to Edward II's army in 1321. After that its architectural destiny was controlled by Henry VIII, Sir Anthony Saint Leger, and eventually the Smyth, Culpeper, Fairfax, and Wykeham Martin families. Today hundreds of thousands of people visit the castle each year touring its exquisitely decorated interior and enjoying its grounds and position on the lake.