Ludgershall Castle
Has been described as a Certain Timber Castle (Ringwork), and also as a Certain Masonry Castle, and also as a Certain Palace (Royal)
There are masonry ruins/remnants remains
| Name | Ludgershall Castle |
| Alternative Names | Lutgershall |
| Historic Country | Wiltshire |
| Modern Authority | Wiltshire |
| 1974 Authority | Wiltshire |
| Civil Parish | Ludgershall |
Ludgershall Castle consists of the remains of a flint tower and extensive earthworks dating to between the 11th and 13th centuries. The earthworks include two contiguous enclosures; the northern enclosure, a ringwork, was a medieval fortification which was later used as a royal residence. It appears that the bank and ditch of the ringwork also formed part of a garden feature. The southern enclosure comprises a double bank and ditch which has been extensively quarried in the south-west area; in the south-east area modern housing and a farm track obscures the earthworks. This has been interpreted as a 'bailey'. Additional features include a hollow way to the west of the castle, and a massive ditch to the east which has been variously described as a deer park boundary and town defences. Excavations were carried out between 1964 and 1971. These identified the development of residential buildings from the 11th to 13th century within the north ringwork. A great hall is thought to have been added in the 1240s, and by the late 12th century mural towers, an undercroft and latrine towers were constructed. Excavations within the south ringwork identified three phases of 12th century timber buildings, a dewpond and a large timber-lined cellar. (PastScape)
Ludgershall Castle ... principally consists of a double-ditched, double ringwork which was excavated by Peter Addyman in 1964-72. The excavations found mid 12th century timber buildings and defences which were superseded by flint and mortar buildings in the 13th and 14th centuries, the remains of one of which still survives as a standing structure. It has royal associations from 1103, and was the scene of action during the Anarchy struggle (para. 4.4). After the mid 12th century a series of high-status buildings were erected within the northern ringwork, and towards the later Medieval period the castle appears to have primarily served as a royal hunting lodge, with royal parks to north and south
Maintenance of the castle appears to have ceased in the later 15th century, and by the time Leland visited Ludgershall in the 1550s it was either ruinous or demolished. (Mcmahon p. 7)
This site is a scheduled monument protected by law
Not Listed
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
| OS Map Grid Reference | SU263511 |
| Latitude | 51.2596397399902 |
| Longitude | -1.62326002120972 |
| Eastings | 426380 |
| Northings | 151180 |
