Midhurst Castle

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; St Anns Hill; Tan Hill

In the civil parish of Midhurst.
In the historic county of Sussex (Modern Authority of West Sussex, 1974 county of West Sussex).

Motte and bailey with some stonework. Once surrounded by 15ft thick wall. The foundations of medieval buildings including a curtain wall, hall, chapel and possibly a keep were excavated in 1913. The site was probably abandoned circa 1280, though the chapel was still in use in 1291.

This site has been described as a;
Timber Castle
Masonry Castle.
The confidence that this site is a medieval fortification or palace is Certain.
Earthworks remains.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SU88882146

Modern Map from Good for landscape form and features	Modern Map from Good for general location
Air Photo from	1st edition OS Map from

Sources of information, references and further reading

PastScape number; 246800

• Web site links
  • http://www.castlestudiesgroup.org.uk/Midhurst.PDF
    http://www.castleuk.net/castle_lists_south/197/midhurstcastle.htm
• Books
  • Jones, R., 2003, 'Hastings to Herstmonceux: the castles of Sussex' in Rudling, D. (ed) The archaeology of Sussex to AD2000 (Great Dunham: Heritage Marketing and Publications) p171-8
    Magilton, J. and Thomas, S., 2001, Midhurst (Chichester: Chichester District Archaeology 1)
    Salter, Mike, 2000, The Castles of Sussex (Malvern) p54-5
    Thompson, K., 1996, 'St Ann's Hill, Midhurst: the builders and owners of the castle' in The Archaeology of Chichester and District 1996 (Chichester Distrcit Council) p48-9
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p255 [slight]
    Guy, John, 1984, Castles in Sussex (Phillimore) p130-1
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol2 p473
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Salzman, L.F. (ed), 1953, VCH Sussex Vol4 p74
    Allcroft, A.H., 1930, Waters of the Arun (London) p90-1, 94-5
    Hope, 1919, Cowdray and Easebourne Priory (London) p2-4, plates i-iii
    Elwes, Dudley George Cary, 1876, A history of the Castles, Mansions, and Manors of Western Sussex (London: Longmans) p77n, 152-3
• Journal Articles
  • Woodburn, Bill and Guy, Neil, 2005-6, 'St Ann's Castle' Castle Studies Group Journal Vol 19 p28-30
    Guy,Neil, 2005, 'The Cowdray and Midhurst Heritage Project' Castle Studies Group Bulletin Vol18 p166-8
    Hallam, M., 1985, ‘Midhurst town and castle' Archaeological Journal Vol142 p57-8
    King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol3 p90-127
    Turner, Rev Edward, 1868, ' St Anne's Hill, Midhurst' Sussex Archaeological Collections Vol20 p175-179