Barnard Castle is named after the men that built the stone castle and founded the town. In 1125 Bernard de Balliol succeeded to the lands first given to Guy de Balliol in 1095. The original timber castle was rebuilt in stone and expanded by Bernard and his younger son, Bernard de Balliol II. The large castle is built high on rocky cliffs above the River Tees, and is divided into four wards all walled in stone. The inner ward is protected by a deep ditch cut into the rock and within this ward are the remains of the most important castle buildings including the Round Tower and the Great Hall.