Scheduled MonumentsEnglandMerdon Castle

Merdon Castle

England
List entry 1019123
Nation
England
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic England (NHLE)

Overview

History & significance

Merdon Castle is a motte-and-bailey fortress located near Hursley in Hampshire, England, with origins dating to the Norman period following the 1066 conquest. The site comprises a substantial earthwork with a prominent mound, or motte, surrounded by defensive ditches and banks characteristic of eleventh-century fortification design. The castle served as a significant stronghold in medieval Hampshire and remained in use throughout the twelfth century before being superseded by more developed stone fortifications. The earthworks survive as a scheduled ancient monument and provide important archaeological evidence of early Norman military settlement and territorial control in southern England.

Merdon Castle is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1019123. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Merdon Castle?

Merdon Castle is a motte-and-bailey fortress located near Hursley in Hampshire, England, with origins dating to the Norman period following the 1066 conquest. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1019123.

Who is responsible for protecting Merdon Castle?

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.

What other scheduled monuments are near Merdon Castle?

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).

Aubrey Research

Generate a full report for this location

Aubrey generates in-depth historical research for any address in Britain — drawing on scheduled monument data, Domesday records, Roman heritage, PAS finds and medieval history to reveal the complete story of a landscape.

Research the area around Merdon Castle