Leicester’s medieval ‘party palace of Europe’

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Built in the 12th century, Leicester Castle’s Great Hall is the oldest surviving aisled and bay divided timber hall in Britain. It still retains some of its original 12th-century timber posts. Part of Leicester Castle, and labelled the 'party palace of Europe', the Great Hall hosted Parliament in the 14th and 15th centuries and today features an original Victorian criminal courtroom. The castle was the favourite residence of John of Gaunt, first Duke of Lancaster, and has hosted many illustrious visitors including Richard III. BBC Leicester’s Ben Jackson went to find out more with Steven Peachey, Assistant Museum Curator at De Montfort University. Produced by Pete Wardman. If you want to know as soon as a new episode is available, make sure you subscribe to Secret Leicestershire on BBC Sounds and have push notifications turned on.