Listed Building record MDO19451 - The former boundary wall to Highcliffe Castle, fronting on to Lymington Road, Christchurch

Former boundary wall to Highcliffe Castle. Circa 1830; repaired C20. Hitch's patent bricks in rat-trap bond with triangular brick coping and buttresses. About 1.5 m tall, now in two sections. The wall was probably built during Donthorne's remodelling of Highcliffe Castle in 1830-4. In 1828 Caleb Hitch, a Ware [in Herts] brickmaker, was granted a patent for large interlocking bricks with cavities. They were laid on edge and claimed to be more economical than standard bricks, but because of the complicated form of brick required to turn a corner many different patterns had to be produced. Consequently, they were not widely adopted and outside Ware Hitch bricks are very rare. The later standard brick extensions are not of special interest.

This description is derived from the associated designation record, the validity of which has not been checked.

Record last edited

Jun 15 2007 11:19AM