THERE'S a market town in England that's said to be home to the country's oldest castle Located in Hertfordshire, Berkhamsted is often overlooked as a holiday destination . 4 Berkhamsted is often overlooked as a holiday destination Credit: Alamy 4 Berkhamsted Castle (pictured) is thought to be the oldest castle in England Credit: Alamy Even though the market town isn't popular among holidaymakers, it is home to several tourist attractions. One of those is Berkhamsted Castle, which is said to be the oldest castle in England.
Originally built from timber in the 11th century during the Norman Conquest, Berkhamsted Castle was thought to be one of the most important defensive structures of its time. This is because the castle was built to gain control of an important trade route between London and the Midlands. Throughout the centuries, the castle kept in royal hands and was occupied by key historical figures like Thomas Becket , Richard, Earl of Cornwall and the Black Prince .
Richard, Earl of Cornwall made renovations to the castle to transform it into a grand residence. Berkhamsted was later passed onto five queens, including Queen Elizabeth I. By the end of the 15th century, Berkhamsted was no longer used by the royals and fell into a state of disrepair.
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