Between 1392 and 1398, John de Macclesfield, an officer in the court of Richard II and Keeper of the Great Wardrobe.

[3] The king died before he could grant Macclesfield's request, however, and was succeeded to the throne by Henry IV.

Although he fell out of favour and returned to his home in Macclesfield after being replaced as Keeper of the Wardrobe, John was granted a licence to crenellate in 1410.

By the 20th century, all that remained of the building was the porch (or gateway) – which dated to the reign of Henry VII – where Palace Yard is now and parts of the curtain wall.

[1] In 1985, dressed stone that had originally been part of the castle was accidentally discovered, although it was heavily weathered;[8] the site was excavated the same year.

[5] Macclesfield Castle was constructed from sandstone, and the remains of it which were uncovered in 1985 have not survived well due to weathering.