Tudor Tattershall
Upon Lord Cromwell’s death and without a direct heir the castle passes into the Crown’s possession who subsequently granted it to loyal and familial subjects (Edward IV, Henry VII, Margaret Beaufort, Henry VIII, Henry Fitzroy and Charles Brandon all owned the castle during this period). Charles Brandon turned the castle into a Tudor palace and installed the Tiltyard to practice jousting (1537-45). Under his ownership the castle became a place of wealth, power and beauty once again. The castle then was inherited by the Clinton family who became the Earls of Lincoln living at the site for 120 years.
Castle besieged
In 1643 a big part of the Castle was destroyed or damaged during the Civil War. The Royalists, led by the Earl of Newcastle who was sweeping across Lincolnshire, attacked the castle and left only the Great Tower intact. After the Kings defeat Parliament ordered the demolition of the entire castle. The Earl of Lincoln appealed to Parliament to leave the Great Tower intact and due to his repeated pleas the demolition order was overlooked.
Abandonment and Gradual Decay
In 1693 the last Earl of Lincoln died. The Fortesque family inherit the castle but never live in it as they lived primarily in Devon. The castle is abandoned and becomes derelict and ruinous. All the floors collapse, the window glass falls out and the moats are filled in and the ground floor of the Great Tower is used as a cattle shed. The castle becomes a popular tourist destination as a Romantic Ruin. In 1910 the Fortesque family sold the castle to an American consortium and to raise additional funds the fireplaces were ripped out and sold to an American collector.