Monument record MDO46297 - Dorchester Castle, North Square, Dorchester

Between 1154-75 it was in possession of the Earl of Cornwall and had become a royal possession by 1185. According to Hutchins, the castle occupied 6 acres, had a prominent mound, the defences being oval in shape, which implies that it was a motte and bailey. The earliest documentary evidence is of 1137 when it was strengthened by the Count of Gloucester. There are several references to it in the reigns of both John and Henry III, particularly to expenditure on repairs to buildings in the castle rather than repairs to the defences. It appears to have been disused from about 1290, and there are references to its stonework being reused to build the Greyfriars in 1309. Excavations have located the main ditch in two places. <1-4>

<1> Allen Brown, R, Colvin, H M, and Taylor, A J, 1963, The history of the King's Works, Volume 2: the Middle Ages, 629 (Monograph). SDO18003.

<2> Royal Commission on Historical Monuments (England), 1970, An Inventory of Historical Monuments in the County of Dorset, Volume II (South East) Part 1, 105 (Monograph). SDO148.

<3> Draper, J, and Chaplin, C, 1982, Dorchester Excavations Volume 1: Excavations at Wadham House 1968; Dorchester Prison 1970, 1975 and 1978; and Glyde Path Road 1966, 27-60 (Monograph). SDO9690.

<4> Allen Brown, R, 1989, Castles, conquest and charters: collected papers, 107 (Monograph). SDO19852.

<5> National Record of the Historic Environment, 1386099 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Aug 22 2024 7:40PM