What is Duffield Castle, Derbyshire?
[[Image:Duffield Castle 225335 a19c01e6.jpg|thumb|Duffield Castle today]] '''Duffield Castle''' was a [[Normans|Norman]] Castle in [[Duffield, Derbyshire|Duffield]], [[Derbyshire]]. The site is a [[Scheduled Ancient Monument]]. The rocky site was easy to defend, because it was surrounded by the river in three sides and hard to climb. It is not clear whether the site was inhabited in prehistoric times. The [[Roman army]] might have been there to protect the ford nearby where people from Lutudarum [[Wirksworth]] passed before joining [[Icknield Street|Rykneld Street]] at [[Derventio (Little Chester)|Derventio]] (now part of [[Derby]]) which was N-shaped route for the [[North Sea]] ports. Ancient items of [[Anglo-Saxons]] have been found there. They suggest that Saxon [[Thegn|Thane]] named Siward or his relatives might have occupied the site. Also, many [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] or [[Romano-British]] pottery has been found, including roof tiles of Roman pattern. Some of them were kept in the [[Derby Museum and Art Gallery|Derby Museum]], but others kept in the Parish Room were unfortunately lost. ==The Norman Castle== [[Henry de Ferrers]] (Ferrars) faithfully served [[William I of England|King William]] and was given land in Derbyshire, which became known as [[Duffield Frith]]. It was between [[Heage]] and [[Shottle]] on the North, and [[Tutbury]] on the South. He built [[Tutbury Castle]] as his main residence. He built another castle at Duffield to protect north side of his land. This castle was probably built of wood. His third son, Robert, fought the Scots in the [[Battle of the Standard]] in 1138, and became the first [[Earl of Derby]]. [[Image:Duffield Norman Capital.jpg|200px|thumb|Norman capital from Duffield Castle]] His great grandson, William, became the Earl in 1162. He supported King's sons when they resisted [[Henry II of England|Henry II]], and finally both castles were destroyed in 1173. William II was favored by [[John of England|King John]], and took back the land of [[Wirksworth]], [[Ashbourne,