[3] William the Conqueror granted the castle to Peter de Valognes, the High Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire.

By this time the castle was governed by the Crown after Robert de Valognes had died in 1184 leaving no male heirs.

[4] Following the death of Angelo Salvo in 1216, a French invasion besieged the castle for a month until the governor, Walter de Godarvil, surrendered.

The following year the castle was granted to Edward's third son, John of Gaunt who spent much time there, using it as his chief country home when not abroad on campaigns.

When John of Gaunt died in 1399, Richard II seized all the Lancastrian estates, including Hertford Castle, where he installed his new wife, the eight-year-old Princess Isabella of Valois.

[7] The castle continued to remain in royal hands and in 1418 Henry V granted it to his new wife, Princess Katherine of France, and they spent much time there together.

[4] The castle was repaired around 1440, paid for by the demolition of 'the manor of Camelot', thought to be Camlet Moat in Enfield Chase.

[9] His son Henry VIII spent considerable sums turning the castle into a civilian palace, including building the gatehouse, which still stands.

[7] From this time the castle remained in the ownership of the Cecil family, who leased it out to a succession of occupiers, many of them successors to William Cowper.

In the 1930s, the north wing was added to the gatehouse and, in the late 20th century, Lord Salisbury gave what was left of the castle to the town.