Cranborne Castle Hill

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Castle Hall

In the civil parish of Cranborne.
In the historic county of Dorset (Modern Authority of Dorset, 1974 county of Dorset).

Earthwork remains of a Motte and Bailey castle on foreland site. The earthworks cover some 2.5 acres and comprise a circular motte, 180ft in diameter and 28ft high, surrounded by a small ditch with an outer bank on the west and north west. A crescent-shaped bailey on the east is bounded by a rampart up to 25ft high, with an outer ditch. A possible entrance is situated at the south end of the bailey.

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

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SU05931266

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; 213663

Books

Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of Wessex (Malvern) p22
Wilton, Phil,1995, Castles of Dorset (Wimborne)
Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p65-6
Pomeroy, Colin, 1998, Discover Dorset Castles and Forts (Dovecote Press) p22
King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p127
RCHME, 1975, An inventory of historical monuments in the County of Dorset. Vol5: east p15
Sumner, 1913, Ancient Earthworks of Cranborne Chase (London) p50-1
Warne, 1872, Ancient Dorset (Bournemouth) p251-5 and plate viii
Hutchins, J., 1861-73 (3edn), History and Antiquities of the County of Dorset (Blandford) Vol3 p381

Journal Articles

Smart, 1890, Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society Vol11 p146-58

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This record last updated on Friday, April 6, 2007

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