The resulting medieval moated castle was approximately rectangular in plan with four angle towers and a keep within the curtain walls.

There is a castellated parapet and an entrance porch[2] The old castle walls were retained and during the English Civil War it was garrisoned by parliamentary forces.

In 1811 it was occupied as a nunnery by a Benedictine order who sold it in 1853 to Sir Perceval Radcliffe, when they then relocated to Oulton Abbey.

[10][11][12][13] The owner was prosecuted for allowing some holiday letting use in 2013 and fined £17,000 and ordered to pay £100,000 costs.

[9] The castle has several enforcement notices preventing various uses including "events, activity days, parties, photography & romantic breaks".

[15] In 2017 the owner talked about the issues he had faced from locals and the planning department:[16] In 2016, the Castle was put up for sale with Leading Estates for £5 million.