Merdon Castle, Hursley

Also known as, or recorded in historical documents as; Merden

In the civil parish of Hursley. In the historic county of Hampshire (Modern Authority of Hampshire, 1974 county of Hampshire).

Earthwork remains of an Iron Age univallate hillfort and a Medieval motte and bailey which reused the former site. The motte and bailey is said to have been built in 1129-38 and destroyed in 1156. Field Survey between 1993 and 1994 by RCHME recovered further evidence of earthworks and buried foundations suggesting that the site had been used as a military camp during World War 1 and 2. Suggestions of a keep in some sources may refer to these C20 works. Merdon was centre of the Hundred of Buddlesgate. Deserted mediaeval settlement. Now in grounds of Hursley Park. One of the five castles built by Henry de Blois, bishop of Winchester.

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law.

The Ordnance Survey Map Grid Reference is SU42082646

Air Photo from Air Photo and general mapping	1st edition OS Map from Mid to late 19th century maps
Modern Map from Landscape form and features	Modern Map from General location and route planning
Geograph British Isles occasionally has photos of the site and will usually give an idea of the surrounding landscape.

Sources of information, references and further reading

This site's English Heritage (PastScape) Defra or Monument number is 231087
This site's County Historic Environment Record (formerly Sites and Monuments Record) number is 25401 'grey' literature, such as watching brief reports, held by H.E.R.s is often poorly referenced and is unlikely to be recorded in this website.

• Web site links
  • http://www.eng-h.gov.uk/reports/merdon/
    http://www.hants.gov.uk/hampshiretreasures/entries/v01p134e04.html
    http://www.ecastles.co.uk/merdon.html
• Books
  • Emery, Anthony, 2006, Greater Medieval Houses Vol3 (Cambridge) p430-34
    Roberts, E., 2003, Hampshire Houses 1250-1700: Their Dating and Development (Winchester: Hampshire County Council)
    Salter, Mike, 2002, The Castles of Wessex (Malvern) p42
    Thompson, M.W., 1998, Medieval bishops' houses in England and Wales (Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing) p91, 96, 186
    Pettifer, A., 1995, English Castles, A guide by counties (Woodbridge) p85-6
    Webster, C.J., 1988, 'Merdon Castle, Hursley -Survey Report' in Hughes, M. (ed), Archaeology in Hampshire, Annual Report for 1988 (Winchester)
    Barron, W.G., 1985, The Castles of Hampshire and Isle of Wight (Paul Cave) p28-9
    King, D.J.C., 1983, Castellarium Anglicanum (London: Kraus) Vol1 p191
    Fry, P.S., 1980, Castles of the British Isles (David and Charles) p259
    Renn, D.F., 1973 (2edn), Norman Castles of Britain (John Baker)
    Williams-Freeman, J.P.,1915, An Introduction to Field Archaeology as Illustrated by Hampshire (London) p255-9, 384-5
    Harvey, Alfred, 1911, Castles and Walled Towns of England (Methuen and Co)
    Page, Wm (ed), 1908, VCH, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Vol3 p401, 418
    Mackenzie, J.D., 1897, Castles of England (Heinemann) Vol1 p205-6
    Grose, F., 1756, Antiquities of England and Wales Vol8 p77
• Journal Articles
  • Hughes, Michael, 1989, 'Hampshire Castles and the Landscape 1066-1216' Landscape History Vol2 p27-60
    Roberts, E., 1986, 'The Bishop of Winchester's Deer Parks in Hampshire, 1150-1400: their Development, Function and Management.' Proceedings of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society Vol42 p137
    King, D.J.C. and Alcock, L., 1969, 'Ringworks in England and Wales' Château Gaillard Vol3 p90-127
    Thompson, M.W., 1966, 'Merdon Castle' Archaeological Journal Vol123 p221
    1924, Archaeological Journal Vol81 p350-1
• Antiquarian (Histories and accounts from late medieval and early modern writers)
  • Chandler, John, 1993, John Leland's Itinerary: travels in Tudor England (Sutton Publishing) p202
    Toulmin-Smith, Lucy (ed), 1910, The itinerary of John Leland in or about the years 1535-1543 (Bell and Sons; London) Vol1 p275 http://www.archive.org/details/itineraryofjohnl01lelauoft
• Other sources, 'grey' literature, unpublished works, etc. (Theses, in-house reports and other such)
  • Payne, Naomi, 2003, The medieval residences of the bishops of Bath and Wells, and Salisbury (PhD Thesis University of Bristol) Appendix B: List of Medieval Bishop's Palaces in England and Wales [available via http://ethos.bl.uk ]
    Cole, Mark, 1994, Merdon castle, Hursley, Hampshire, report on geophysical survey (Ancient Monuments Laboratory reports)
    Webster, C.J., 1988, Merdon Castle, Hursley — survey report. (Southampton: University, Department of Archaeology) [duplicated typescript]