Holt Castle was probably built very soon after Edward I's grant in 1282 of the lordship of Bromfield and Yale to John de Warenne, Earl of Surrey.

The castle was unusual in being pentagonal in plan, with a tower at each corner. Built of local red sandstone, the castle stands next to the river on an outcrop of bedrock left at the centre of the quarry used for its construction. A separate tower rose from the moat, which was connected to the river.

Strategically positioned in relation to the Royalist stronghold of Chester, Holt Castle remained in Royalist hands for much of the Civil War, eventually surrendering in January 1647 after a lengthy siege.

The castle was largely destroyed following the Civil War, much of the stone being removed between 1675 and 1683 for the construction of Eaton Hall. What remains is a scheduled ancient monument.

More background and history can be found on castlewales.com.