aerial photograph of Stafford Castle Staffordshire England UK. The earliest documented history of the castle at this sites records a Norman Timber Motte & Bailey Castle constructed in 1070 shortly after the Normans defeated an Anglo Saxon rebellion at Stafford in 1069. There was also an earlier Castle built in AD 913 by Æthelflæd, the Mercian Princess, however the exact whereabouts of this Saxon castle is unknown. The Norman Timber Castle was rebuilt in stone by Ralph de Stafford in 1347.By 1603 the Castle was recorded as being in a dilapidated state, however it was strong enough to hold out for some months against a Parliamentarian siege following which the castle was demolished. In 1813 the castle was partially rebuilt in a gothic revival style. This building was in use until 1949 when it became dilapidated and was abandoned. In 1962 most of what remained was demolished due to safety concerns.