The splendour of a 12th century royal court has been recreated in Dover Castle keep, which new research suggests was originally built as a medieval PR exercise by Henry II.

The great tower is thought to have been constructed as a show of wealth and power to 'impress' foreign pilgrims and dignitaries on their way to the shrine of Thomas Becket, the Archbishop of Canterbury who was murdered by four of the king's knights in 1170.