The Battle of Hastings was only the beginning of the Norman Conquest of England and castles were one of their key weapons in the conquest of the North.

To subdue the rebellious north William the Conqueror redistributed the lands of Anglo-Saxon lords to his trusted Norman knights, including the Percys, who continued the conquest. By 1086 the Percy family held large estates in Yorkshire, including Wetherby, and by 1400 they were perhaps the greatest landed family in the north.

Gillian  Waters explored how the Percy family gained their lands and castles in the north of England, including Wetherby, and how their castles reflected the changing styles over the centuries; from early motte and baileys to fortified manor houses. She also explored how Tottenham Hotspur Football Club acquired its name, and how the Percys eventually lost their manor of Wetherby.