 In 1223 the castle returned to the Crown . In the 13th century there were periods of building work at the castle , and by 1300 its final form had been established . Toward the end of the 14th century , the barony was granted to John of Gaunt , Duke of Lancaster . Having little use for the castle , he ordered some of its material to be stripped out for re @-@ use , marking the beginning of its decline . From the time of John of Gaunt to the present day , the castle has been owned and administered by the Duchy of Lancaster . Peveril Castle became less important administratively , and by 1609 it was " very ruinous and <unk> for no use " . In the 19th century , Sir Walter Scott featured the castle in his novel Peveril of the Peak . The site is situated in a national park , and cared for by English Heritage . Peveril Castle is protected as a scheduled monument and a Grade I listed building . 
