Oakham Castle

Oakham Castle is a rectangular ward enclosed by a high bank, featuring a fine arcaded hall in a transitional style, likely constructed by Walkelin de Ferrers around 1180-90. The building is made of fine-grained shelly oolite from Clipsham and has a stone slate roof with three later dormers. The hall measures 65 feet by 44 feet and is divided by three shafts on either side into four bays, with eight paired windows under pointed arches and a stone band continuing along the cills. A round-headed doorway, now located in the center, was originally at the east end, which also has three blocked doorways with simple continuous moulding. The circular piers and crocketed capitals resemble those found in the chancel at Canterbury. The spandrels feature carved figures of musicians, and there are Romanesque carved wall corbels. The earliest part of the roof includes two red oak beams added by George Villies, Duke of Buckingham. The hall was formerly used as the Assize Court and is now the Magistrates Court, containing courtroom furniture from the late 18th or early 19th century, as well as a collection of ornamental horseshoes left by each peer upon their first visit to the town as payment of tax to the Lord of the Manor. There are modern additions built onto the west side. The site is scheduled as an ancient monument.