Listed Building record MDO8729 - Christchurch Castle

A motte and bailey castle situated between the estuaries of the River Avon and Stour at Christchurch. The castle is situated to the north east of Christchurch Priory and was constructed by Richard de Redvers around AD 1100. The motte mound has maximum dimensions of 50 metres in diameter and approximately 5 metres in height and may, originally, have supported a timber tower. The motte was enlarged to its present size in order to accommodate the stone rubble keep or tower which was built after AD 1300. The bailey occupied the area to the north east of the motte. To the north east is the well preserved structure of the Norman great hall which dates from circa AD 1160. The hall is aligned north west by south east and has maximum dimensions of 18.5 metres by 7 metres. The structure is likely to have provided the main accommodation of the Norman castle and it continued in use over a long period. It later became the residence of the Constable and is now often known as The Constables House. The castle was besieged and captured by Walter de Pinkney in 1148. Subsequently, although re-fortified, it became a residence and played little strategic role in later conflicts. Despite playing little part in the Civil War, the castle was ordered to be demolished by Parliament in 1651, when its defences were levelled. The area has been used as public gardens for much of the 20th century. Both the castle and The Constables House are Listed Grade I and in the care of the Secretary of State Scheduled

Christchurch Castle was probably erected by Richard de Redvers during the reign of Henry I (1100-1135). It did not figure very prominently in the history of the time although it was in use during the Civil War; it was demolished shortly afterwards. (2) The only surviving remains are the motte, the keep and the hall. The keep was rectangular, 50 feet by 45 1/2 feet, with walls over nine feet thick. Only the base-courses of the north and south walls remain, but the east and west walls stand to some height. The 12th century hall, known as the "Norman House" is a rectangular building of two storeys, 67 feet by 23 feet internally, and in a very good state of preservation. It is probable that the curtain wall of the castle enclosure must have been continuous with the east wall of the hall. Published survey (1:2500) correct. (3) See ground photographs. See MOW pamphlet. The Castle, Grade 1: The Constable's House, Grade 1. Both as described. (4) SZ 160927. Christchurch Castle - Scheduled. (5) The castle was inserted into the existing street pattern about 1100. (6) There is no evidence of the early form of the castle, but the earth motte was possibly an addition. There is no evidence of a wall or bank around the bailey except possibly for a wall along the mill stream, Possibly incorporated into the fabric of the Constable's House about 1160. An earlier bailey circuit may be preserved in the line of an alley and side street to the north of the motte. Concise architectural report. (7) Scheduled listing. (8,9) Listed by Cathcart King. (10)

The earthworks were mapped by the Dorset Stour NMP project from 1940s aerial photographs (11).

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1931, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1930, 54 (Serial). SDO34.

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society, 1988, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society for 1987, 134-135 (Serial). SDO87.

<1> Ordnance Survey, 1:2500 scale, 1962 edition OS map (Map). SWX1197.

<2> 1912, The Victoria history of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight 5, p88-90 (Monograph). SWX4005.

<3> Aldsworth, F G, Various, Field Investigators Comments FGA, F1 FGA 31-MAR-69 (Unpublished document). SWX1161.

<5> 1978, List of ancient monuments in England: Southern England, p82 (Monograph). SWX1558.

<7> Medieval military architecture in England., 385-392 (Monograph). SWX4010.

<8> DCMS, 1998, Scheduled Monument Notification 1998, 29-APR-1998 (Scheduling record). SWX1137.

<9> DCMS, 1998, Scheduled Monument Notification 1998, 16-JAN-1998 (Scheduling record). SWX1137.

<10> DOE (HRR), 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Borough of Christchurch 1976 (Scheduling record). SWX4475.

<10> 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum : an Index and Bibliography of the Castles in England, Wales and the Islands., 190 (Index). SWX4013.

<11> Royal Air Force, 26-MAR-48, RAF/CPE/UK/2548 V 5077 (Aerial Photograph). SDO15395.

<12> Penn, K J, 1980, Historic Towns in Dorset, 41-2 (Monograph). SWX1202.

<13> The Christchurch Antiquarians, 2006, Christchurch Castle, Christchurch, Dorset; report on survey work July-October 2004 (Unpublished document). SDO10455.

<14> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2011, Christchurch Castle and Constable's House Cultural Heritage Baseline Report (Unpublished document). SDO15422.

<15> 2011, An Electromagnetic Survey at Christchurch Castle, Christchurch, Dorset (Unpublished document). SDO17224.

<16> Historic England, Historic England Archive (Index). SDO14738.

Object Number
Object Title
Scope And Content
AL1197/115/01 Christchurch Castle and Priory from the River Avon with the ruins of the Norman Hall or Constable's House in the foreground
AL1197/115/03 Detail of the window in the Norman Hall or Constable's House at Christchurch Castle
BF112418 Christchurch Castle and Norman House
The Norman House is also known as the Constable's House.
FL00640 Christchurch Castle, Norman House and Priory, Christchurch, Dorset. This material has not yet been fully catalogued. Copyright, date, and quantity information for this record may be incomplete or inaccurate.
IC122 Christchurch Castle and Norman House, Dorset
Two reconstruction illustrations depicting Christchurch Castle and the Norman House at the site, created between 1995 and 2005 by the illustrator Ivan Lapper. One illustration depicts the interior of the Norman Constable's House and the other an aerial view of the Castle, Priory and town as it may have appeared in the fourteenth century.
OP10365 A stereo image showing a round arched Norman window with chevron moulding at the Constable's House. Christchurch Priory can be seen behind.
OP10392 The Constable's House was built c.1160, probably to provide the main accommodation for Christchurch Castle. It has well preserved round arched Norman windows with chevron moulding, and one of only five surviving Norman chimneys in the country.
OP10393 The Constable's House was built c.1160, probably to provide the main accommodation for Christchurch Castle. This well preserved chimney is and one of only five surviving Norman chimneys in the country.
OP10394 Three children sit on a bench next to the ruins of Christchurch Castle. Construction of the stone keep of the castle was begun c.1300.
Image taken from the east
OP10437 A view from the north-east showing the Norman architecture of the Constables's House and the priory church at Christchurch, founded around 1150. Mounted on the reverse of OP10439
OP10466 Christchurch Priory and the Constable's House viewed from the bridge over the River Avon. The church of the Augustinian priory was founded around 1150. Mounted on the reverse of OP10468 and OP10469
OP24544 A view of the overgrown ruins of the Constable's House at Christchurch Castle, from the north-east
OP24545 A view of a window on the Constable's House at Christchurch Castle
OP24546 A view of the Constable's House at Christchurch Castle, from the north-east, with the Priory beyond
PF/CCC Christchurch Castle and Norman House, Christchurch, Dorset
A series of nineteen sheets relating to the recording, maintenance and presentation of Christchurch Castle and the Norman House, created between circa 1906 and circa 1983 by the Office of Works, Ministry of Works and the Department of the Environment.There is a series of ten sheets of labelled plans, elevations and sectional elevations of the Norman House, created in the early twentieth century by the Office of Works.Other sheets in the series include various location plans, site plans, deed plans and publication drawings.

<17> National Record of the Historic Environment, 458553 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Nov 27 2024 2:09PM