Major work took place in the early thirteenth century when the wooden bailey wall was replaced by stone and two nearby brooks were dammed to create the castle's water defences. The following century saw the castle gain a great hall and other towers. The castle was owned by John of Gaunt in the later fourteenth century and was one of his most important castles. He made a number of major improvements to the castle.
Kenilworth castle was partially destroyed during the Civil War so it could not be used as a military stronghold. The castle remained a ruin in the following centuries though even by the eighteenth century it was already a tourist attraction. The castle is now owned by English Heritage.
