Monument record MDO19894 - Highcliffe Castle grounds; possible remains of post-medieval summer house

Earthworks identified by Thomas Welsh in the grounds of Highcliffe Castle during 1988 may relate to a pre-existing building located to the south of the present castle.

Mr Thomas C. Welsh noted some low earthworks in Highcliffe Castle grounds at some time prior to the 12th March 1988 (1).

The earthworks comprised a slightly curving 'screening bank' lying south of the castle with its open side facing to the cliff. The bank was up to 2m high in places, 12-20m broad and extending from SZ20209310 to SZ20449313. It appeared to have been cut by the castle's sunken gardens. Thomas Welsh suggested that the bank may form part of the landscaping for an earlier building on the site, located to the south of the present castle as shown on Milne's 1791 county map of Hampshire (2).

Further earthworks were noted in an area of Rhododendrons at SZ20279306, at the approximate focus of the curved bank described above. These comprised a number of minor earthworks which Welsh interpreted as possibly relating to the original house itself. These are centred on a possible ornamental tree-ring bank, a circular enclosure with the NW perimiter projected as an angle (1).

However, analysis of a Malmesbury estate map dated 1796 shows that the original Highcliffe building was located further to the east (3). The earthworks outlined here may relate to a 19th century summer House visible on the estate map and 1st edition OS 25 inch maps (3-7). It is not clear whether the curving 'screening' bank' relates to the earlier Highcliffe House or the 19th century Castle.

<1> Welsh, T C, 1988, Unidentified Earthworks, Highcliffe Castle SZ202931 (Unpublished document). SDO10442.

<2> Milne, 1791, Atlas of the County of Hampshire (Map). SDO10443.

<3> 1796, A map of the tythings of Pokesdown, Iford, Tuckton and Week, Christchurch Borough, Bure and Street in the County of Southampton 1796 (Map). SDO10465.

<4> Ordnance Survey, 1870, Ordnance Survey 1st edition 25 inch sheet 87.5 (Highcliffe and Somerford) (Map). SDO10460.

<5> Ordnance Survey, 1870, Ordnance Survey 1st edition 25 inch sheet 87.6 (Highcliffe east) (Map). SDO10461.

<6> Ordnance Survey, 1870, Ordnance Survey 1st edition 25 inch sheet 87.9 (Highcliffe south west and Christchurch bay) (Map). SDO10463.

<7> Ordnance Survey, 1870, Ordnance Survey 1st edition 25 inch sheet 87.10 (Christchurch bay SE of Highcliffe Castle) (Map). SDO10464.

Record last edited

Nov 7 2007 12:58PM