It is said that Mackworth ‘Castle’ was destroyed during the English Civil War. There is no evidence to show that the actual castle was a stone built structure as we think of a castle today, but was probably more likely to be a timber-framed fortified Manor House. It’s exact history is something of a mystery. Some say that the gatehouse may have been built as a folly, or possibly as a gatehouse to a house that was never built. (A large platform for a house has been found to the north of the gatehouse.) The standing remains of the gatehouse comprise of the facade and part of the outer side walls of a two storey sandstone building. On the ground floor is a round arched central gateway which, originally, would have been flanked by side chambers containing staircases, leading to the guard chamber on the upper floor.