# Christchurch Castle > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Christchurch_Castle > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Christchurch_Castle.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch_Castle > Source revision: 1334175538 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Castle in Dorset, England The two remaining walls of the castle's keep **Christchurch Castle** is a [Norman](/source/Normans) [motte and bailey](/source/Motte_and_bailey) castle in [Christchurch, Dorset](/source/Christchurch%2C_Dorset), [England](/source/England) ([grid reference](/source/Ordnance_Survey_National_Grid) [SZ160927](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Christchurch_Castle¶ms=50.733698_N_1.774647_W_region:GB_scale:25000)). The earliest stonework has been dated to 1160 (866 years ago) (1160). The castle's site is inside the old [Saxon](/source/Saxon) *[burh](/source/Burh)* dominating the [River Avon](/source/River_Avon_(Hampshire))'s lowest crossing. The Constable's House standing adjacent to the castle was added at around 1160, and is a rare and notable example of a Norman domestic dwelling.[1] Today the bailey is home to a [bowling green](/source/Bowling_green) and gardens, and the ditch has been filled in, but parts of the [keep](/source/Keep_(castle)) and much of the Constable's House still stand. The site is managed by [English Heritage](/source/English_Heritage). ## Castle The [keep](/source/Keep_(castle)) and the [motte](/source/Motte_and_bailey) or mound on which it sits The castle is believed to stand on the site of an earlier wooden fort built in 924 following the capture of the town ramparts in 901 by King [Æthelwold of Wessex](/source/%C3%86thelwold_%C3%A6theling), and subsequently fortified with a [motte](/source/Motte_and_bailey) by King [Edward the Elder](/source/Edward_the_Elder).[2] After the [Norman Conquest](/source/Norman_Conquest) of 1066 the castle's defences were strengthened by the addition of a ditch and [bailey](/source/Motte_and_bailey) surrounded by a wooden [palisade](/source/Palisade). The wooden fort was eventually replaced with a stone [keep](/source/Keep_(castle)). The Norman castle was a strategic defensive structure controlled by the King's constable until [King Henry I](/source/Henry_I_of_England) (r. 1100–1135) granted it as the [caput](/source/Caput) of a [feudal barony](/source/English_feudal_barony) to his cousin [Richard de Redvers](/source/Richard_de_Redvers_(died_1107)) (died 1107), [feudal baron of Plympton](/source/Feudal_baron_of_Plympton), Devon.[3] While the Saxon defences had been against outside threats such as [Viking](/source/Viking) raiders, the Norman fortress was more concerned with subduing the local populace. It was also a useful base for enforcing the [New Forest](/source/New_Forest) Laws. The castle controlled the harbour and inland access via the [Rivers Avon](/source/River_Avon_(Hampshire)) and [Stour](/source/River_Stour%2C_Dorset).[1] The earliest masonry has been dated to c. 1160, and there is documentary evidence of the castle existing in c. 1130.[1] [Richard de Redvers](/source/Richard_de_Redvers_(died_1107)) is often named as the castle's first builder, although there is little documentary evidence of this, and this castle may well have been on the site of the earlier [Saxon](/source/Saxon) castle. The castle was rebuilt by [Baldwin de Redvers](/source/Baldwin_de_Redvers%2C_1st_Earl_of_Devon) to resist [King Stephen](/source/Stephen_of_England) during the [civil war](/source/The_Anarchy) with the [Empress Matilda](/source/Empress_Matilda) in 1147. A great tower was built probably around 1300. The castle again saw action during the [Civil War of 1642–1651](/source/English_Civil_War). The [Parliamentarians](/source/Roundheads) were allowed to take control of the castle in 1644. The [Royalists](/source/Cavaliers) laid siege to it for 3 days, demolishing houses on the corner of Church Street and Castle Street in order to site their cannons. The Royalists were unable to take the castle and [Oliver Cromwell](/source/Oliver_Cromwell), fearing such a powerful stronghold, ordered it to be [slighted](/source/Slighting) in 1652.[2] The castle is now in ruins; a couple of the [keep](/source/Keep) walls remain and the remains of a rectangular [moat](/source/Moat). ## Constable's House The Constable's House Nearby is a domestic Norman dwelling, known as the Constable's House, which was built within the original castle bailey in 1160. Much of the stonework survives, including a rare example of a Norman [chimney](/source/Chimney) (one of only five in the country). The stone used for construction was [Purbeck marble](/source/Purbeck_marble).[4] The ground floor which has four slit windows was used as a storeroom. The upper floor, accessed by steps outside and an internal staircase, contained the main hall. It is 67 by 23 feet (20 by 7 m) in size.[4] As well as the chimney, another notable feature is the [garderobe](/source/Garderobe) tower, which extends over the mill stream added in the early 13th century to provide sanitary arrangements.[1] ## Heritage status Both the Castle[5] and Constable's House[6] are Grade I listed buildings. The area containing the adjacent priory, the castle and Constable's House is separately designated as a Scheduled Monument.[7] ## See also - [Castles in Great Britain and Ireland](/source/Castles_in_Great_Britain_and_Ireland) - [List of castles in England](/source/List_of_castles_in_England) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-communigate_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-communigate_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-communigate_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-communigate_1-3) David Eels. ["This is Dorset Communigate"](https://web.archive.org/web/20110515074849/http://www.communigate.co.uk/dorset/clhs/page11.phtml). *Christchurch Castle*. Christchurch Local History Society. Archived from [the original](http://www.communigate.co.uk/dorset/clhs/page11.phtml) on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 12 August 2010.. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Avon_Valley_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Avon_Valley_2-1) Moxey, Sarah (1997). *Avon Valley Footpath Guide*. Halsgrove. pp. 87–90. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-874448-26-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-874448-26-6).. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** Sanders, Ian. English Baronies, Oxford, 1960, p.112, Probable Baronies, Christchurch 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Pevsner_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Pevsner_4-1) [Pevsner, Nikolaus](/source/Nikolaus_Pevsner); LLoyd, David (1967). *The Buildings of England Hampshire and the Isle of wight*. Penguin Books. pp. 177–178. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0140710329](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0140710329). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-NHLE1153159_5-0)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["The Castle (Grade I) (1153159)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1153159?section=official-list-entry). *[National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England)*. Retrieved 31 August 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-NHLE1325069_6-0)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["The Constable's House (Grade I) (1325069)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1325069?section=official-list-entry). *[National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England)*. Retrieved 31 August 2016. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-NHLE_7-0)** [Historic England](/source/Historic_England). ["Pre-Conquest monastery, early Christian cemetery, Augustinian priory and a motte and bailey castle at Christchurch (1018277)"](https://HistoricEngland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1018277?section=official-list-entry). *[National Heritage List for England](/source/National_Heritage_List_for_England)*. Retrieved 31 August 2016. - Fry, Plantagenet Somerset, *The David & Charles Book of Castles*, David & Charles, 1980. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [0-7153-7976-3](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/0-7153-7976-3) [50°44′00″N 1°46′30″W / 50.733369°N 1.775010°W / 50.733369; -1.775010](https://geohack.toolforge.org/geohack.php?pagename=Christchurch_Castle¶ms=50.733369_N_1.775010_W_region:GB_source:enwiki-osgb36(SZ160927)) ## External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to [Christchurch Castle](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Christchurch_Castle). - [Read a detailed historical record about Christchurch Castle](https://web.archive.org/web/20120929122303/http://www.pastscape.org.uk/hob.aspx?hob_id=458553) - [English Heritage - Christchurch Castle](https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/christchurch-castle-and-norman-house/) v t e Christchurch, Dorset See also: History of Christchurch Listed buildings in Christchurch Areas Blackwater Burton Christchurch Harbour Fairmile Friars Cliff Highcliffe Hoburne Park Hurn Jumpers Common Mudeford Portfield Purewell Somerford Stanpit Town Centre Walkford Winkton Rivers River Avon Bure Brook River Mude River Stour Attractions Avon Beach Christchurch Castle Christchurch Harbour Christchurch Priory Highcliffe Castle Knapp Mill Mudeford Quay The Museum of Electricity The Town Hall The Red House Museum Stanpit Marsh Tucktonia Schools Burton CE Primary Christchurch Infants Christchurch Junior Highcliffe Mudeford Infants Mudeford Junior The Priory CE Primary Somerford Primary The Grange Twynham Railway stations Christchurch (original) Christchurch Hurn Air travel Bournemouth Airport Christchurch Airfield RAF Christchurch RAF Hurn Hospital Christchurch Politics Christchurch New Forest and Christchurch Christchurch and Lymington Bournemouth East and Christchurch 1993 Christchurch by-election 1844 Christchurch by-election Christchurch Borough Council elections 2019 BCP election History Battle of Mudeford Christchurch Rural District Football club Christchurch F.C. Wards Burton and Grange Christchurch Town Commons Highcliffe and Walkford Mudeford, Stanpit and West Highcliffe --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Christchurch Castle](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch_Castle) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch_Castle?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.