[2] It is believed to have been an early Iron Age fort and Roman, Saxon and Viking settlement.

In 1066 the site was attacked by the Normans and Robert Gernon built his castle here, making it his chief seat and the head of his Barony.

[1][4] The grounds were cleared to reveal the original earthworks and mounds and after years of battling with planners, in 1980 the work began to reconstruct Mountfitchet Castle.

After many years of work the restoration of Mountfitchet Castle was complete, and it was opened to the public in 1985.

In 2013, one of the castle's cockerels, a Light Brahma named 'Little John', was nominated for the world record for tallest chicken, standing at 26 inches (660 mm) tall.