kˈaʊnti ɹˈɛkɚdz fɹʌmðə ɹˈeɪn ʌv hˈɛnɹi ɹˌoʊmən θɹˈiː wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd tˈuːhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvən wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd tˈuːhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɛvənti tˈuː stˈeɪt ðætðə lˈænd wˌɛɹ ðə kˈæsəl wʊd lˈeɪɾɚ biː bˈɪlt wʌz ˈoʊnd baɪ ɹˈælf blˈɛŋkɪnsəp dˈʊɹɹɪŋ ðæt ˈiəɹə; ðɛɹwˌʌz nˈoʊ ˌɪndɪkˈeɪʃən ʌv ˌɛni bˈɪldɪŋz ɔnðə sˈaɪt æt ðæt tˈaɪm.
County records from the reign of Henry III  (1207–1272) state that the land where the castle would later be built was owned by Ralph Blenkinsop during that era; there was no indication of any buildings on the site at that time.