Castles · South East England
Christchurch Castle
In or near Stanpit.
Christchurch Castle — castle, now ruinous, in Christchurch, Dorset, England, UK.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Nearest railway station
- Christchurch · 0.9 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Christchurch Castle, the nearest railway station is Christchurch, located 0.9 km away. Entry is not free, and wheelchair access is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is BH23 1DT.
About
Christchurch Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Heritage designation: Grade I listed building. Owned by English Heritage. Managed by English Heritage. Wikidata describes it as: "castle, now ruinous, in Christchurch, Dorset, England, UK". Coordinates: 50.7337°, -1.7747°.
Photo gallery
Heritage listing
Christchurch Castle is a Norman motte and bailey castle in Christchurch, Dorset, England (grid reference SZ160927). The earliest stonework has been dated to 1160 (1160). The castle's site is inside the old Saxon burh dominating the River Avon's lowest crossing. The Constable's House standing adjacent to the castle was added at around 1160, and is a rare and notable example of a Norman domestic dwelling. Today the bailey is home to a bowling green and gardens, and the ditch has been filled in, but parts of the keep and much of the Constable's House still stand.
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Summary from the official site
Christchurch Castle features a mound-top keep that was part of a significant Norman castle in Dorset. Visitors can also explore the nearby Norman House, a 12th-century structure known for its domestic Norman architecture.
Read more on the official property page.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: River Avon System SSSI
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Avon Valley (Bickton to Christchurch) SSSI
- Ramsar wetland: Avon Valley
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Christchurch Castle is a Norman motte and bailey castle in Christchurch, Dorset, England (grid reference SZ160927). The earliest stonework has been dated to 1160 (1160). The castle's site is inside the old Saxon burh dominating the River Avon's lowest crossing. The Constable's House standing adjacent to the castle was added at around 1160, and is a rare and notable example of a Norman domestic dwelling. Today the bailey is home to a bowling green and gardens, and the ditch has been filled in, but parts of the keep and much of the Constable's House still stand. The site is managed by English Heritage.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
- Coordinates
- 50.7337, -1.7747
- Parish
- Christchurch
- Postcode
- BH23 1DT
- Parliamentary constituency
- Christchurch
- Nearest railway station
- Christchurch — 0.9 km
- Opening
- Open any reasonable time during daylight hours
- Official site
- www.english-heritage.org.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q1078256 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Christchurch Castle (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: ChristchurchCastle.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Christchurch Castle?
- Christchurch Castle is in South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode BH23 1DT), in the parish of Christchurch.
- What is Christchurch Castle?
- Christchurch Castle — castle, now ruinous, in Christchurch, Dorset, England, UK.
- How do I get to Christchurch Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Christchurch, about 0.9 km away. Drivers can use postcode BH23 1DT.
- Who runs Christchurch Castle?
- Christchurch Castle is operated by English Heritage.
- Is Christchurch Castle a listed building?
- Christchurch Castle is officially recognised as Grade I listed building listed.
- Is Christchurch Castle a protected site?
- Yes — Christchurch Castle is part of the River Avon System SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest and the Avon Valley (Bickton to Christchurch) SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- Does Christchurch Castle charge admission?
- Christchurch Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
- How do I get to Christchurch Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Christchurch, about 0.9 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode BH23 1DT.