The Great Hall of Leicester Castle

Behind this modest brick facade stands the Great Hall of Leicester Castle, one of the most remarkable medieval buildings still standing in Britain. It was originally erected in the 11th or 12th century and the root timbers may date from the 14th century.

It was open to the public today as part of Leicester's Old Town Festival, one of several taking place in the city today.

You don't get a sense of the size of the medieval hall because the space was divided in the 19th century to form a civil and a criminal court with an entrance lobby between. Still, these are interesting enough and you can make your way down the steep steps from the dock to the cells beneath.

On the grass outside the Hall you could watch re-enactments of medieval combat and there were other stalls in the streets nearby.