Top 6 Castles around Brockenhurst

If you’re hanging out in Christchurch, you’ve hit the jackpot for a "two-for-one" history fix. The Priory and the Castle Ruins are practically neighbors, separated only by a lovely little stretch of grass and some very photogenic streams. It’s the kind of place where you can spend an hour wandering through ruins and then step into one of the most massive, peaceful churches in England. This is the "rugged" part of the tour. Built in the late 11th century to keep an eye on the harbor, the castle isn't a massive fortress anymore, but what’s left is pretty evocative. The Constable’s House: This is actually the hidden star of the show. It’s a rare example of a Norman domestic house. Look for the old stone chimney—it’s one of the oldest in the country. It sits right on the edge of the Mill Stream, and it’s a great spot to watch the local ducks while imagining life in the 1100s. The Keep: You can still see the remains of the Great Tower sitting atop its "motte" (the big grassy mound). If you’re feeling energetic, you can walk up the path for a better view of the town, though the tower itself is mostly a "shell" these days. The Vibe: It’s totally free to wander through. On a sunny day, you’ll see people sitting on the grass nearby with ice creams. It’s history without the velvet ropes.

The Norman House is a rare example of Norman domestic architecture in England. Whereas most ordinary domestic buildings of this date were built of timber, the house was built of stone, reflecting the high status of its builder. The tall, circular Norman chimney is a particularly unusual survival. The ground floor was probably used for storage. An external staircase led to the main rooms on the first floor, where a small lobby divided the two principal rooms, the hall and solar chamber. The hall was open to the roof with widely splayed windows to let in as much light as possible. The elaborately decorated window at the north end of the hall marks the dais end, where the high table stood. The private solar chamber had an adjoining latrine emptying into the mill stream. The east wall of the house, nearest the river, is thicker as it served as the defensive curtain wall of the castle. All the doors and windows on this exposed side had drawbars in case of attack.

Highcliffe Castle has been described as arguably the most important surviving house of the Romantic and Picturesque style of architecture, which flourished at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. Its significance is recognised nationally by its Grade 1 status on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural and Historical Interest. The Castle was built between 1831 and 1836 and is the realisation of one man’s fantasy. That man was Lord Stuart de Rothesay. When he built it he was following in the footsteps of his grandfather the 3rd Earl of Bute, who had built an earlier mansion on the site during the 1770s. A keen botanist, Lord Bute created a scaled-down version of Kew. Perched on the edge of the cliff, on heathland with magnificent views out to sea, this house stood for only 38 years before land springs and sea erosion destabilised it. today the Castle is again a beautiful building – now for all to enjoy. Owned by the Council since 1977 and benefitting from English Heritage funding and two National Lottery grants (in the 1990s and 2010s), the Castle now hosts joyous weddings, stages a variety of productions, and hosts fairs, exhibitions and events throughout the year. It is a valued asset at the heart of the community and a popular tourist attraction. We welcomed BBC’s The Antiques Roadshow in 2012 and made an appearance more recently in Mr Selfridge on ITV.

As a Welshmen it is customary to flick the v's at an english castle. Don't ask me why, it just is.

Remains of a mound top keep and a stone building known as the Norman house.

This spot offers a sneak peek into Rhinefield House which is a beautiful hotel/hospitality venue in the New Forest

Hurst Castle is an artillery fort established by Henry VIII between 1541 and 1544 to protect against invasion from France and the Holy Roman Empire. At the time, it was one of the most advanced artillery fortresses in England. Commanding the narrow entrance to the Solent, you are afforded stunning panoramic views from the fort. The site is now managed by English Heritage. For more information, visit: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hurst-castle.

It is an impressive and well-preserved facility. With a good view, the look is great to isle of white, especially to "The Needles Old Battery & New Battery"