It is located west of the town of Newbury in the English county of Berkshire.

When the elder Marshal refused to comply, Stephen threatened to have the young boy catapulted over the walls.

John, ("that child of hell and root of all evil" according to Henry of Huntingdon) responded defiantly, "I have the anvils and the hammer to forge still better sons."

King Stephen wasn't so heartless though—he relented and the boy survived.

There, the mottes of three castles can be found, which would be consistent with the general tactics of siege warfare during this medieval period.