Ashton's Tower and East Ranges
Added by Sir Robert of Ashton, constable of the castle 1376-81, as an extension of the constable's house and an additional defence, the east range along the curtain wall (which initially included the site of Ashton's Tower) was not built until the thirteenth century.
Joining the north and south ranges, it was in two parts and probably only of one storey, the north end was used as a store or stable and the south end as a kitchen, some original rubble walling of the south end still survives to a height of around two metres.
Early in the fourteenth century the ranges were divided into three rooms, a store and two rooms with signs of burning on the floor. The southern of the two rooms had a large oven and tank built against the dividing wall and may have been a bake house or brewery. Around 1362 a kitchen was built by the hall in the southwest range.
