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Merdon Castle is a motte-and-bailey fortress situated near Hursley in Hampshire, dating principally to the Norman period following the Conquest of 1066. The castle comprises a substantial mound crowned by stone fortifications, with an adjoining bailey, and represents an important example of early Norman military architecture in southern England. Excavations have revealed evidence of occupation spanning the medieval period, including the remains of stone structures on the motte and domestic buildings within the bailey. The site was largely abandoned by the late medieval period, leaving well-preserved earthworks that demonstrate the form and scale of an early Norman castle.
Merdon Castle is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1019123. View the official record →
Merdon Castle is a motte-and-bailey fortress situated near Hursley in Hampshire, dating principally to the Norman period following the Conquest of 1066. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1019123.
Merdon 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 1019123.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Park pale to the north, west and south west of Hursley Park (0.5 km), Roman villa N of Fernhill Farm (3.7 km), Two bowl barrows 200m north of Attwoods Drove Farm (4.7 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Merdon 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.
Merdon Castle stands on White Chalk Subgroup, bedrock that formed in the Maastrichtian. The rock here is chalk.