Over the years, Hertford Castle has served as a garrison for knights and soldiers, a prison, a royal residence, and today hosts weddings and corporate events.

The story of the castle began before the Norman invasion of 1066, when a motte and bailey castle was built on the site as one of several buildings that formed a ring of defence around London. William the Conqueror granted this castle to Peter de Valoignes, the High Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire.

Henry II took great interest in the castle and ordered its reconstruction in the 12th century. He had the curtain walls and the first gatehouse built, followed by apartments, the great hall and several offices.

Despite its primary use as a royal residence, the castle’s military role was not forgotten. In 1308, members of the Knights Templar were held prisoner in the castle for four months.

Templar knights, in their distinctive white mantles with a red cross, were among the most skilled fighting units of the Crusades. Non-combatant members of the order managed a large economic infrastructure throughout Christendom, innovating financial techniques that were an early form of banking.

Rumours about their secret initiation ceremony created distrust. Philip IV of France, deeply in debt to the order, took advantage of the situation and many of the order’s members in France were arrested and tortured into giving false confessions, before being burned at the stake. Under pressure from King Philip, Pope Clement V disbanded the order in 1312. The abrupt disappearance of a major part of European infrastructure gave rise to speculation and legends, which survive today.

During the Hundred Years’ War, Hertford Castle was once again used to detain prisoners. These included David II, King of Scotland, and his wife, Joan, and John II, King of France.

John II was kept at the castle for four months. He arrived in Hertford with 11 luggage wagons and at least 70 attendants.

Henry VIII spent considerable sums turning the castle into a civilian palace, including building the gatehouse which still stands today.

His daughters, Mary and Elizabeth, were in residence in the 1530s. Elizabeth’s prayer book, which is now in the royal collection at the British Library, was written by her at Hertford Castle when she was just 12 years old. The collection of prayers translated by the young princess into Latin, French and Italian are prefaced by a dedication which is the only extant letter from Elizabeth to her father.

In 1589, Elizabeth, now Queen of England, granted Hertford a charter confirming the weekly market on a Saturday, which still takes place today.

When the castle ceased to be used as a royal residence, it began falling into decay and Charles I sold the castle to Lord Salisbury. This is where Hertford Castle’s ownership has remained ever since.

For a brief time in the early 19th century, the castle became the home of the East India Company College, a school for training administrators. The East India Company was formed to pursue trade with the East Indies and would rise to account for half of the world’s trade, particularly in basic commodities including cotton, silk, salt, tea and opium. The company also ruled the beginnings of the British Empire in India.

In the 20th century the grounds of Hertford Castle became a public garden and the north wing was added to the gatehouse. Lord Salisbury subsequently gave what was left of the castle to the town.

Hertford Castle now houses the offices of the town council and is available for both private and corporate hire.