Christchurch Castle, Norman motte and bailey castle in Christchurch, England
Christchurch Castle is a Norman motte-and-bailey fortress in Christchurch, England, featuring a rectangular keep standing approximately 9 meters high with remaining walls incorporating sections of the Constable's House from 1160. The ruins show the original layout of the fortification with the central keep and its surrounding defensive structures.
Richard de Redvers received the castle from King Henry I as part of a feudal estate and constructed defensive structures in the early 12th century. This founding period established the site as a significant Norman fortification in the region.
The Norman House displays domestic design with a hall featuring decorated windows and a private chamber that once served the nobility who lived there.
The castle ruins are freely accessible during daylight hours, with a paid parking area located about a three-minute walk from the entrance. The grounds are easy to explore on foot, especially if you arrive early to encounter fewer visitors.
The Norman House features a tall circular chimney, a rare architectural element from that era. This feature is one of the few surviving examples of such a structure from the Norman period.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
