James Tucker in Cov

The town of Tamworth is just outside of Birmingham, and is the old political capital of Offa the Great (c. 750); Lichfield, down the road, was his religious centre. Today, though, it's a pretty typical market town, with some great names in its past and some interesting buildings scattered about. Tamworth Castle is the most interesting of those- built after the Norman Conquest, when Tamworth was important, it has survived because there was never again much need to sink capital into defending the town. The old circular Norman motte-and-bailey fort is essentially the same, though inside it has been filled up with living quarters from various times.