The ancient castle at the heart of Oakham

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Oakham Castle is recognised as one of the best examples of domestic Norman architecture in England. Originally a motte-and-bailey castle, not much remains of the outer defences other than earthworks that provide a sense of the external shape and size of the original castle. The Great Hall of Oakham Castle was listed in the Domesday Book and would have been a wooden building at that time. The stone-built Great Hall, which survives today, was built by Walkelin de Ferrers between 1180 and 1190. BBC Leicester’s Ben Jackson went to find out more with historian and volunteer at Oakham Castle Jill Smith. Produced by Pete Wardman. If you want to know as soon as a new episode is available, make sure you subscribe to Secret Leicestershire on BBC Sounds and have push notifications turned on.