sentences:  The present castle was built about 1160 by the Umfraville family at the request of King Henry II on land awarded to them following the Norman Conquest, presumably as a defence against the Scots.Not long after its erection, in 1174, it was taken by the Scots and was then rebuilt more strongly.In 1296 it was besieged by Robert de Ros and some 40,000 men , but the siege by the supporters of John Balliol was withstood.