Castles · South West England
Dorchester Castle
In or near Charminster.
Dorchester Castle was a motte and bailey castle in the market town of Dorchester, Dorset, southern England (grid reference SY692909).
Sarah Smith — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Nearest railway station
- Dorchester West · 0.8 km
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
About
Dorchester Castle was a motte and bailey castle in the market town of Dorchester, Dorset, southern England (grid reference SY692909).
Photo gallery
Protected designations
- Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty: Dorset
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Dorchester Castle was a motte and bailey castle in the market town of Dorchester, Dorset, southern England (grid reference SY692909).
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The date that the castle was built is unclear. Between 1154 and 1175 it was in possession of the Earl of Cornwall and it had become a royal possession by 1185. Both Henry III and John spent money on the castle. It appears to have been disused from about 1290 and there are references to its stonework being reused by the Chidlock family to build Dorchester Greyfriars in 1309. Certainly it was abandoned by 1422. Dorchester Prison occupies its site – originally to the north of the town, with a Franciscan Priory further east, but nothing of the castle or the priory remain. However, in 1720, two underground passages were discovered while building a chapel: these once connected the castle to the…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 50.7170, -2.4370
- District
- Dorset
- Parish
- Dorchester
- Postcode
- DT1 1WU
- Parliamentary constituency
- West Dorset
- Nearest railway station
- Dorchester West — 0.8 km
- Official site
- dorsetcountymuseum.org
Sources
- wikipedia: Dorchester Castle (CC BY-SA 4.0)
Other places nearby
Dorchester Castle
Literary houses · 0.0 km
Dorset Museum
Museums · 0.2 km
Kings Arms Hotel
Hotels · 0.2 km
William Barnes
Public art & sculpture · 0.2 km
Dorchester, Dorset
Museums · 0.2 km
The Town Pump
Memorials & monuments · 0.2 km
Bridge, 30 Feet North Of The Bridge 40 Feet East Of Hangmans Cottage, On Path Leading Towards Frome Whitfield House
Historic bridges · 0.2 km
Bridge Over River Frome At North End
Historic bridges · 0.2 km
Arch Between Nos 40 And 41
Memorials & monuments · 0.2 km
Tolpuddle Martyrs
Memorials & monuments · 0.2 km
County Hall, Dorchester
Gardens · 0.3 km
Dorset County Council
Museums · 0.3 km
Nearby
📷 5Literary houses · South West England
Dorchester Castle
Dorchester Castle — a literary house museum in england south east.
📷 5Museums · South West England
Dorset Museum
Dorset Museum — a museum in england-south-east, United Kingdom.
📷 7📷 5Public art & sculpture · South West England
William Barnes
William Barnes — a public art in england-south-east, United Kingdom.
📷 5Museums · South West England
Dorchester, Dorset
Dorchester, Dorset — a museum in england-south-east, United Kingdom.
📷 5Memorials & monuments · South West England
The Town Pump
The Town Pump — a memorial in england-south-east, United Kingdom.
Where to eat & stay near Dorchester Castle
Places to stay
📷 7
📷 5Caravan parks · South West England
The Manor House
The Manor House — a caravan park in england south east.
📷 5
📷 5Caravan parks · South West England
Hardy Country Park
Hardy Country Park — a caravan park in england south west.
📷 5
📷 5Caravan parks · South West England
Warmwell Caravan Park
Warmwell Caravan Park — a caravan park in england south east.
Places to eat & drink
📷 5Historic pubs · South West England
Plume Of Feathers Public House
Plume Of Feathers Public House in England South West, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · South West England
Old House at Home
Old House at Home in England South West, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic pubs · South West England
Junction Hotel
Junction Hotel in England South West, United Kingdom.
📷 5Historic pubs · South West England
The Royal Standard Public House
The Royal Standard Public House in England South West, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · South West England
The Spice Ship Inn
The Spice Ship Inn in England South West, United Kingdom.
📷 7Historic pubs · South West England
The Old Swan Public House
The Old Swan Public House in England South West, United Kingdom.
More castles in this region
Flagship📷 10Castles · South West England
Old Wardour Castle
Old Wardour Castle — Grade I listed castle in Wardour, Wiltshire, England, UK.
📷 5Castles · South West England
Ballands Castle
Ballands Castle — former castle in Somerset, England, UK.
📷 5Castles · South West England
Brownsea Castle
Brownsea Castle — grade II listed Device Fort in Purbeck, United Kingdom.
📷 5Castles · South West England
Castle Hill
Castle Hill — castle in Mere, Wiltshire.
Frequently asked questions
- Where is Dorchester Castle?
- Dorchester Castle is in South-East England, United Kingdom (postcode DT1 1WU), in the parish of Dorchester.
- What is Dorchester Castle?
- Dorchester Castle was a motte and bailey castle in the market town of Dorchester, Dorset, southern England (grid reference SY692909).
- How do I get to Dorchester Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Dorchester West, about 0.8 km away. Drivers can use postcode DT1 1WU.
- Is Dorchester Castle a protected site?
- Yes — Dorchester Castle is part of the Dorset National Landscape (AONB).
- Does Dorchester Castle charge admission?
- Dorchester Castle typically charges admission. Check the official site for current ticket prices and opening hours.
- How do I get to Dorchester Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Dorchester West, about 0.8 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode DT1 1WU.