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Marshwood Castle is a motte-and-bailey castle located in the parish of Marshwood in west Dorset. The monument consists of a substantial mound with a surrounding ditch, typical of Norman fortifications erected in the eleventh and twelfth centuries following the conquest of 1066. The site represents a significant example of early medieval military architecture in Dorset, though documentary evidence regarding its specific foundation date and founding lord remains limited. Like many such castles, it was likely constructed to control local communications and assert feudal authority over the surrounding landscape.
Marshwood Castle is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1002836. View the official record →
Marshwood Castle is a motte-and-bailey castle located in the parish of Marshwood in west Dorset. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1002836.
Marshwood Castle is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1002836.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Barrow cemetery on Hardown Hill 600m west of Butt Farm (3.2 km), Small multivallate hillfort with outworks called Coney's Castle (3.3 km), Three bowl barrows on High Bullen 230m south west of Hazelbower (3.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Marshwood Castle's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Marshwood Castle stands on Lias Group, bedrock that formed in the Aalenian. The rock here is mudstone, siltstone, limestone and sandstone.