Brackley’s castle dates from around year 1110. It was a motte and bailey castle with a moat. Built at the crossing of the Great River Ouse, the castle was built to help the Normans suppress the English.

There were plans for this castle to be fortified with stone and for the site to become even more strategically important, but it never got to that point and was destroyed around 1173. It is thought this was in retaliation for the rebellion against Henry II by Robert Le Blanchmain, 3rd Earl of Leicester.

Some parts of the site were given to the Hospital of St John, situated next to St James’ Lake, in or around the 1230s.

Today the site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, believed to be of national importance. There is no access for the public, but a mound is still visible from the road leading to St James’ Lake.