Hanley Castle

Hanley Castle is a castle site in Worcestershire consisting of medieval remains with a dry moat and earthwork mound situated near the church. Tall conifer trees surround the location, marking where the fortification once stood.

King John commissioned the castle as a hunting lodge in 1207, which was later developed into a fortified structure for defense. The last remaining tower was dismantled in 1795 to provide materials for repairs to the bridge at Upton upon Severn.

The site reflects early Norman influence on English fortification design and the role of such places as royal hunting grounds in medieval times. Visitors today see these remains as a window into how medieval nobility used their estates.

The site sits alongside the B4424 road about 5 miles southeast of Great Malvern and can be reached by local walking paths. Visitors should expect uneven ground and wear sturdy footwear for exploring the remains.

The last tower was not simply destroyed in 1795 but carefully dismantled so its stone could be reused to repair a bridge downstream. This shows how people in earlier times often salvaged materials from old structures rather than leaving them to waste.

GPS coordinates: 52.07160,-2.23922

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:25