Listed Building record MDO8678 - Constable's House, Castle Street, Christchurch

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. <1>

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>

12th century. Built by Baldwin de Redvers in the north-east angle of the curtain wall of the Castle. A 2 storey, rectangular building of stone rubble. Almost all the walls survive with the southern gable end. Round arched window openings in all 4 facades, divided into 2 lights by a shaft of Purbeck marble. Arches have chevron moulding. Slits on ground floor. In the centre of the east wall is an original circular chimney shaft
This description is derived from the associated designation record, the validity of which has not been checked. <4>

The castle was inserted into the existing street pattern about 1100. <5>

Listed by Cathcart King. <6>

Twelfth century house, located in the north-east angle of the curtain wall of Christchurch Castle. Built by Baldwin de Redvers and was originally two storeys high. <7>

Accessible overview of Christchurch Castle and "Norman House" for visitors. <8>

The Constable's House features one of only five Norman chimneys surviving in England. [Later compilers note: this weblink is no longer active]. (11)

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 (Monument Number 458556) 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. The site is in the care of English Heritage. <10>

<1> Clark, Geo T, 1884, Medieval military architecture in England. Volume 1 (Monograph). SDO20539.

<2> Page, W, ed, 1912, History of the County of Hampshire (Victoria County History) 5, 88-90 (Monograph). SDO13953.

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 Aldsworth, F G, Various, Field Investigators Comments FGA, F1 FGA 31-MAR-69 (Unpublished document).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

<4> DOE (HRR), 1976, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest: Borough of Christchurch 1976 (Scheduling record). SWX4475.

<5> Penn, K J, 1980, Historic Towns in Dorset, 41-2 (Monograph). SWX1202.

<6> Cathcart-King, D J, 1983, Castellarium anglicanum: an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the islands, 190 (Monograph). SDO16340.

<7> Copestake, J D, 1995, The Constables House, Christchurch (Unpublished document). SDO10448.

<8> Carter, Katy (ed), 2004, Heritage Unlocked: Guide to free sites in Devon, Dorset and Somerset (Monograph). SDO18928.

<9> Oxford Archaeological Unit, 2011, Christchurch Castle and Constable's House Cultural Heritage Baseline Report (Unpublished document). SDO15422.

<10> National Record of the Historic Environment, 458553 (Digital archive). SDO14739.

Record last edited

Feb 28 2024 12:29PM