William the Conqueror ordered a motte and bailey Castle to be built at Rockingham around 1070.
The Castle has welcomed many Kings and Queens including Richard the Lionheart, King John and Edward I. Their lasting influence can still be seen in many parts of the Castle and grounds today.
In 1544 Henry VII granted Rockingham Castle to Edward Watson who turned the, by then, dilapidated Castle into a Family Home. Since then, for almost 500 years, Rockingham Castle has remained in the Hands of the Watson Family. The Castle saw action during the Civil War and later, Charles Dickens, a family friend, performed plays here. Today the Castle is the home of James and Elizabeth Saunders Watson and their three children, direct descendents of Edward Watson.
