Clan Rising
Merdon Castle today

England · Partial ruin

Merdon Castle

Merdon Castle is the remains of a 12th-century motte-and-bailey castle built within the earthwork ramparts of an earlier hillfort on a south-facing chalk spur near Hursley, Hampshire. Today the site survives as earthworks, a motte and bailey footprint, buried foundations and the location of a former flint-and-stone tower, managed as a scheduled monument on private land.

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Photograph via Wikimedia Commons

Its prime

1140

Today

Partial ruin

As it stood in 1140

What Merdon Castle looked like in its prime.

Sited on a prominent south-facing chalk spur within older hillfort earthworks, the castle plan centres on an oval motte rising roughly 5 m above the interior and up to 12 m above the outer ditch, with a semicircular bailey to the south. A single encircling earthen rampart and outer ditch define the site, strengthened at the spur’s neck by a small counterscarp bank. A two-storey flint-and-stone tower occupies a gap in the northern rampart and a flint-lined well sits on the motte; ranges of walls and buildings fill the inner ward.

Its story

The story of Merdon Castle.

Merdon Castle is a 12th-century motte-and-bailey built inside the ramparts of a much older hillfort, on a prominent south-facing chalk spur near Hursley in Hampshire. The castle re-used the hillfort's rampart and outer ditch to enclose an oval motte and a semicircular bailey to the south; the motte rises up to five metres above the interior and twelve above the ditch, and carries a flint-lined well and the site of a two-storey flint and stone tower.

The small hillfort's interior held timber or stone roundhouses, storage pits, hearths and raised granaries indicated by postholes, and a 1994 geophysical survey detected buried foundations of walls and buildings, mainly within the inner ward. The site survives as earthworks, a scheduled monument on private land.

Step inside

9 places to explore in 1140.

The record describes 9 distinct spots at Merdon Castle, including 1 interior: timber or stone roundhouse (interior). Create your own photoreal reconstruction and explore every one, more scenes means more rooms, more angles, and more of the place to stand in.

Approach across southern fieldsCrest of the northeast rampartMotte summit with flint-lined well and towerNorthern rampart gap with towerSemicircular bailey (south)Outer ditch and counterscarp at the spur neckInner ward with buried foundationsTimber or stone roundhouse (interior)Raised granary platforms

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Nearby

Landmarks within reach of Merdon Castle.

Winchester Cathedral, EnglandCathedralWinchester Cathedral7 km awayOld Town Hall, EnglandSeat of powerOld Town Hall11 km awaySt Mary's Stadium, EnglandStadiumSt Mary's Stadium14 km away

Questions about Merdon Castle

What is the history of Merdon Castle?

Merdon Castle was built in the 12th century within the ramparts of a much older hillfort. It was built between 1129 and 1138 by Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester, during his brother Stephen’s reign. Henry II ordered its partial demolition in 1155, after which it was used as a bishop’s palace. By the 14th century, it had become ruinous and dilapidated.

What is inside Merdon Castle?

Merdon Castle contains the remains of an inner ward with buried foundations, a motte with a flint-lined well, and the location of a two-storey flint-and-stone tower. The earlier hillfort included timber or stone roundhouses, storage pits, hearths and raised granaries. A 1994 geophysical survey detected buried foundations of walls and buildings, mainly within the inner ward.

Why was Merdon Castle built, and what was it used for?

Merdon Castle was built as a motte-and-bailey castle within the defences of an earlier hillfort. It later served as a palace for the Bishop of Winchester, before becoming ruinous by the 14th century. The castle reused the hillfort’s rampart and outer ditch to enclose an oval motte and a semicircular bailey.

Where is Merdon Castle?

Merdon Castle is near Hursley in Hampshire, on a prominent south-facing chalk spur. It stands within the earthwork ramparts of an earlier hillfort. Hursley is the nearest named settlement given for the site.

When was Merdon Castle built?

Merdon Castle was built in the 12th century. More specifically, it was built between 1129 and 1138, while the hillfort beneath it dates from the Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age, between the 8th and 5th centuries BC.

What did Merdon Castle look like in its prime?

Merdon Castle was an earthwork motte-and-bailey with an oval motte and a semicircular bailey to the south. The motte rose up to 5 metres above the interior and 12 metres above the outer ditch. A single earthen rampart and outer ditch enclosed the site, with a counterscarp bank at the spur’s neck and a flint-and-stone tower in the northern rampart gap.

Is Merdon Castle still standing, or is it a ruin?

Merdon Castle is a partial ruin, surviving mainly as earthworks, buried foundations and the location of a former tower. By the late 18th century, only a fragment of the original flint tower remained visible. In 2023, conservation work stabilised the ruins, made the well safe and allowed the monument to be removed from the Heritage at Risk Register.

Who built Merdon Castle?

Merdon Castle was built by Henry de Blois, the Bishop of Winchester. Construction took place between 1129 and 1138 during the reign of his brother, Stephen. No separate architect is identified in the supplied material.

Can you visit Merdon Castle?

Merdon Castle is closed to the public because it stands on private land. The site is a scheduled monument, and the landowner organises regular community walks that allow people to see it.

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