Lancaster Castle, Medieval castle in Lancaster, England
Lancaster Castle is a medieval fortress with stone walls, towers and battlements standing on a hill above the River Lune. The complex includes a courtyard, former prison cells and an active crown court that still operates today.
The Normans built a wooden fortress on the remains of a Roman site from the 11th century onward. Henry II ordered the structure rebuilt in stone and expanded during the 1160s, turning it into a royal stronghold.
The castle served as the site where judges sentenced ten people accused of witchcraft during the Pendle trials of 1612. Visitors now stand in the same courtroom where magistrates delivered verdicts for centuries.
Guided visits run daily and provide access to the courtyard, towers and former cells. Parts of the buildings remain in use for court sessions, so some areas are accessible only with a guide.
The site remained a working prison and court under one roof for more than nine centuries without interruption. Trials and sentencing still take place in the same chambers where medieval judges once presided.
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