CHRISTCHURCH CASTLE

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DESCRIPTION

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Christchurch Castle is 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 (SZ 19 SE 14) and was constructed by Richard de Redvers in 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 Constable's House'. The structure features one of only five Norman chimneys still surviving in England. 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 was used as public gardens for much of the 20th century.

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(SZ 16029267) Castle (NR) (remains of) (NAT) (1)

(SZ 15979266) Keep (NR)

(SZ 16059270) Constable's House (NR)

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 Constable's House features one of only five Norman chimneys surviving in England. (11)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 1:2500 1962

( 2) edited by William Page, F.S.A. 1912 The Victoria history of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, volume five

The Victoria history of the counties of England Page(s)88-90

( 3) Field Investigators Comments

F1 FGA 31-MAR-69

( 4) List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest

Christchurch, 12-FEB-1976 748 Page(s)21, 22

( 5) by Department of the Environment, Ancient Monuments and Historic Buildings London 1978 List of ancient monuments in England: Volume 1, Northern England; Volume 2, Southern England; Volume 3, East Anglia and the Midlands

2 Page(s)82

( 6) by K J Penn 1980 Historic towns in Dorset

Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society monograph seriesNo.1 (1982) - 1 (1980) Page(s)41-2

( 7) by Geo T Clark 1884 Medieval military architecture in England. Volume 1

Page(s)385-392

( 8) Scheduled Monument Notification

29-APR-1998

( 9) Scheduled Monument Notification

16-JAN-1998

(10) by David J Cathcart King 1983 Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the islands. Volume I : Anglesey - Montgomery

1 Page(s)190

(11) World Wide Web page

English Heritage. 2008. http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/server.php?show=nav.15655 [Accessed: 15-MAY-2008]

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