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<< Our Photo Pages >> Merdon Castle - Hillfort in England in Hampshire

Submitted by SolarMegalith on Thursday, 02 June 2005  Page Views: 20635

Iron Age and Later PrehistorySite Name: Merdon Castle
Country: England
NOTE: This site is 3.945 km away from the location you searched for.

County: Hampshire Type: Hillfort
Nearest Town: Winchester  Nearest Village: Hursley
Map Ref: SU421264
Latitude: 51.035425N  Longitude: 1.400958W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
5 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
3

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SolarMegalith visited on 29th Jan 2012 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4

Merdon Castle
Merdon Castle submitted by SolarMegalith : Iron Age rampart in NE part of Merdon Castle (photo taken on January 2012). (Vote or comment on this photo)
Hillfort in Hampshire

An Iron Age hillfort built on a prominent south-facing chalk spur. The original earthwork defences were only slight, with a single bank and ditch. The site was adapted in the 12th century to form a short-lived motte and bailey castle; some of the medieval stonework on the motte remains today.

From SolarMegalith: Merdon Castle comprises of three parts: an Iron Age hillfort, a medieval inner ward and medieval bailey at the south. Huge earthworks of the bailey partly overlap the Iron Age fortifications and are adjacent to the circular inner ward. Parts of the original castle walls are exposed, while the 8 m high stone tower is of unsure age. Remains of the Iron Age earthworks are in best condition at the east, the bank and ditch which continue at the north beyond the castle might be Iron Age as well.
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Merdon Castle
Merdon Castle submitted by SolarMegalith : Stone tower inside the 12th century castle, probably of later age - view from the south (photo taken on January 2012). (Vote or comment on this photo)

Merdon Castle
Merdon Castle submitted by SolarMegalith : Rampart of the 12th century bailey (partly cuting the earthworks of the Iron Age hillfort) seen from the interior (photo taken on January 2012). (Vote or comment on this photo)

Merdon Castle
Merdon Castle submitted by SolarMegalith : Ditch in northern part of Merdon Castle, most likely Iron Age, as it continues from the Iron Age earthworks at the NE (photo taken on January 2012). (Vote or comment on this photo)

Merdon Castle
Merdon Castle submitted by SolarMegalith : Medieval "inner ward" - view from the south (photo taken on December 2012). (Vote or comment on this photo)

Merdon Castle
Merdon Castle submitted by SolarMegalith : SE corner of the Iron Age rampart - view from the south (photo taken on January 2012)

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"Merdon Castle" | Login/Create an Account | 3 News and Comments
  
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Re: Merdon Castle by SaltyPickle on Wednesday, 16 November 2011
(User Info | Send a Message)
This one is private property with a great big fence around it. I had a look around anyway on a bleak Winter day - there is a conical mound and a great slopy ditch around it in a key hole shape. It was a nice cycle from Eastleigh.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Merdon Castle by Anonymous on Sunday, 21 October 2007
Merdon Castle became the property of the Cromwell Family, after an arranged marriage in which the heir to the Merdon Estate was wedded to Cromwell's son. The marriage didnt last and Cromwell's son fled to France.
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Re: Merdon Castle by Anonymous on Sunday, 21 October 2007
Merdon Castle was a secret lovers bower to the Saxon kings who ruled out of Winchester and it was Cynewulf, King of the West Saxons who was slain there, having been caught in a compromising position.
Historically the castle is not strategically placed, but is hidden by woodland and therefore not easy to defend. Evidence indicates that Merdon Castle was the site of a battle between the Danes and King Aethelred along with his younger brother Alfred. Having already lost two battles at Reading and Old Basing Castle, Aethelred recieved mortal injuries at Merdon and later died leaving Alfred to suceed to the throne and make a last stand at Wilton, where days later he was again thrashed by the Danes and forced to flee to the Somerset marshes .
Merdon's name suggest that it is a mere down, or a hill no more worthy than any other in the vicinity.
In Arthurian Legend, Merlin lives in a secret castle in the woods, a short ride west of Camelot.
Situated a few miles south west of Winchester in a densly wooded area of Hampshire's forgotten Old Forest, Merdon Castle became Church property in about AD600, since which time its custodians have kept it under lock and key.

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