Ashby De La Zouch Castle & Kirby Muxloe Castle

The castles of Ashby de la Zouch and Kirby Muxloe were built by William, Lord Hastings, who acquired immense power and wealth in the service of Edward IV. Kirby Muxloe was never finished after Lord Hasting's murder in 1483. Ashby remained in use as a family seat, and the remains of its magnificent great tower still stand to a height of 24m. Ashby was a royalist stronghold in the Civil War, but after a long siege it fell to the parliamentarians and was partially demolished. The castle started to attract visitors in the 19th century after Sir Walter Scott set a scene in his novel Ivanhoe there.