Tamworth Castle

Tamworth Castle is a small castle, located next to the River Tame, in the town of Tamworth in Staffordshire England. A castle existed on this site since Anglo-Saxon times, when Ethelfleda the Mercian Queen built defenses against Danes (Vikings) the castle served as residence of the Mercian kings. The present Tamworth castle dates from the 11th century and was built by the Normans. It is today one of the best preserved Norman motte-and-bailey castles in Britain. Numerous additions were made to the castle over the centuries, especially in the Jacobean period. Tamworth castle was home of the Marmion family, hereditary Royal Champions to the English Kings from Henry I to Edward I.