Ashby de la Zouch Castle in Leicestershire is a remarkable 12th-century fortress that was extensively expanded by William, Lord Hastings during the 15th century. The castle's most impressive feature is the imposing Hastings Tower, rising 24 metres high and representing one of the largest kitchen towers in the country at the time. The site once included a 1,200-hectare hunting park and ornamental pleasure gardens. The castle has hosted royal visitors including Henry VII and Charles I, and briefly imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots in 1569. Underground passages remain among the surviving ruins, providing glimpses into medieval engineering.
