Page "Castles in Great Britain and Ireland" Paragraph 21

English castles during the period were divided into those royal castles owned by the king, and baronial castles controlled by the Anglo-Norman lords.

According to chronicler William of Newburgh royal castles formed the " bones of the kingdom ".

A number of royal castles were also designated as shrieval castles, forming the administrative hub for a particular county – for example Winchester Castle served as the centre of Hampshire.

These castles formed a base for the royal sheriff, responsible for enforcing royal justice in the relevant shire ; the role of the sheriff became stronger and clearer as the century progressed.