Lewis the Dauphin and a large party of French attackers besieged the castle in 1216 where an English army held out for 15 days. The French, becoming frustrated by their inability to take the castle easily, offered that the English army could surrender and flee with their lives. 

After some consideration the English agreed, and the entire "army", a total of 13 men, surrendered. During the Reign of King Edward III, the then Scottish king, David II (1324 - 1371), son of  Robert I (the Bruce), agreed to invade England, on behalf of and supported by the French King Philippe VI of Valois. 

As David rode south on October 17th 1346, towards Neville's Cross near Durham, they met with a number of English priests, monks, and land-workers who defeated the Scots, and captured David. The English had been lead by the Archbishop of York, William Zouche. David King of the Scots was then taken to Odiham (King Johns) Castle, where he was held prisoner for 11 years. 

The castle stands close to the Basingstoke canal, and much of the original stone from the castle was used in the construction of the canal  during the late 1700's. However, the nearby River Whitewater did exist during the time of the castles construction.