 John died in 1216 and was succeeded by his nine @-@ year @-@ old son , Henry , with the support of the barons . With no prospect of becoming King of England , Louis returned to France . Rochester Castle was returned to royal control in 1217 . Given the damage incurred during John 's siege , the castle was in dire need of repairs . Between 1217 and 1237 around £ 680 were spent on repairs , of which £ 530 were taken up by work on the keep . In 1225 and 1226 the town walls were enhanced by the addition of a ditch at the cost of £ 300 . The new ditch enclosed Boley Hill , possibly to deny the position to future aggressors who might attack the castle . Repairs began with the castle 's outer curtain wall . At the same time a chapel was built within the castle . In 1226 the hall , buttery , and dispensary were repaired . Work probably did not begin on the keep until 1226 . It was mostly repaired by 1227 , but work continued on it until 1232 . During 1230 and 1231 a stone wall dividing the castle 's enclosure into two parts was built which no longer survives . While attention was paid to making the castle a working fortification , Henry III also funded construction of residential and other buildings . In 1244 , £ 132 was spent on building a second chapel next to the royal apartments . Stables and an almonry were added in 1248 . The main gatehouse was rebuilt between 1249 and 1250 at a cost of over £ 120 . Further repairs were carried out on the keep in 1256 , this time costing more than £ 120 . Later in the decade further attention was paid to the castle 's defences , possibly in response to Henry III 's worsening relations with his barons . 
