Sir Walter Scott wrote Ivanhoe in 1819. It is a historical fictional novel and features Conisbrough Castle – ‘Coningsburgh’ Castle in the novel, which has given our beautiful castle world wide fame.
Scott was already a famous Scottish writer with books such as Waverley, about the Jacobite Rebellion. Scott visited Conisbrough Castle and was so impressed by what he saw that he wrote Ivanhoe whilst staying at nearby Sprotborough at the Boat Inn
The Castle belonged to the Warrene family. John de Warrenne was the 8th Earl of Surrey upon who died without issue and this meant his lands and Castle were ceded to the crown