Rockingham Castle stands on the edge of an escarpment giving dramatic views over five counties and the Welland Valley below. Built by William the Conqueror, the Castle was a royal residence for 450 years. In the 16th century Henry VIII granted it to Edward Watson and for 450 years it has remained a family home. The predominantly Tudor building, within Norman walls, has architecture, furniture and works of art from practically every century including, unusually, a remarkable collection of 20th century pictures. Charles Dickens was a regular visitor to the Castle and based Chesney Wolds in Bleak House on Rockingham. Surrounding the Castle are some 18 acres of gardens largely following the foot print of the medieval castle. The vast 400 year old "Elephant Hedge" bisects the formal 17th century terraced gardens. The circular yew hedge stands on the site of the motte and bailey and provides shelter for the Rose Garden. Outside of which stands the newly planted ‘Room Garden’ created by Chelsea gold medal winner Robert Myers, using Yew hedging, shrubs and herbaceous planting. Below the Castle is the beautiful 19th century "Wild Garden" replanted with advice from Kew Gardens during the early 1960s. Included in the gardens are many specimen tress and shrubs including the remarkable Handkerchief Tree.