In 1643 during the Civil War it was occupied by Royalist troops and besieged by Parliamentary forces under Sir William Waller. However three days later in the Battle of Roundway Down Waller's army was routed by Royalist forces. The castle and town remained in Royalist hands under the military governorship of Sir Charles Lloyd who defended the town against repeated attacks and bombardments by the Parliamentarians. In September 1645, Cromwell with large forces and heavy artillery invaded the town and laid siege to the castle, which capitulated after a bombardment. In May 1648 the castle was dismantled following a Parliamentary Order, a process known as slighting. All that remains of the castle today is the original mound, the outline of the moat and traces of the foundations of the great hall.
The present castellatedVictorian era 'castle', which is Neo Norman/Gothic architecture in style, was built by the Leach family in the 19th century. The building is now divided into flats in private ownership and is not open to the public.
