Several books published in the mid-twentieth century include colourful stories about the ruins of this castle, destroyed by Cromwell’s troops in 1646. A great treasure is said to lie in a deep well; some versions say it was hidden there by the Royalists before they fled, others that Richard II flung it into the depths to ensure that his victorious rival Bolingbroke would not get hold of it. Whichever tale is accepted, all agree that the gold is guarded by demons and that anybody who goes down the well to search for it will be struck dumb, or go mad.
There is also supposed to be a tunnel linking the castle to one or other of the nearby farms, through which provisions were brought in when it was besieged; attempts have been made to find this, but were in vain.