Ashby Castle

In 1474 King Edward IV gave the manor's owner, Sir William Hastings, Royal Licence to fortify it. People weren't allowed to build castles and fortify without the King saying so! It was Hastings who built the present castle with its 90 foot tower and 9 foot thick walls. Trouble was, Hastings was on the wrong side in the Civil War and after the castle was besieged and the Parliamentarians were in power, they decided it should never pose a threat again so it was 'slighted' (made unusable by demolishing vital walls) and this is how you see it today. The castle is near where you enter and leave the start/finish field.