the motte-and-bailey castle first built on the spot seems to have been constructed very soon after the norman invasion, perhaps under order of geoffrey alselin who was granted the property in 1066, though more likely under order of alselin's son-in-law, robert de caux, who used laxton as his seat after alselin's death. the construction of the inner courtyard, or bailey, is common for smaller earthwork castles of norman construction.