Castle remains discovered under prison in Gloucester (video)

Gloucester has a long history and as a result of this there are many historical treasures to be found in the city.

An archaeological team evaluating a prison slated for redevelopment recently discovered one of them.

Buried below the facility's basketball court are the rather well preserved remains of a 12th century castle keep.

According to Cotswold Archaeology, the company that performed the assessment, the 12 foot wide keep wall belonged to the latter of two royal residences built in the area constructed as a replacement for what was likely a wooden building.

The massive stone castle boasted two draw bridges, a gatehouse and stables, inside were royal chambers and three chapels.

Chief executive of Cotwold Archaeology, Neil Holbrook said: "The castle would've been a powerful symbol of Norman architecture.

In the 1400s the castle fell into disrepair and was repurposed as an incarceration facility.

The building continued to deteriorate and became the site of frequent illness outbreaks.

A new prison, which still stands today, was built on the site in the late 1700s and remained in use until 2013.