What is recorded here

Half a mile of stone and earth still circles Wareham, marking the largest Anglo-Saxon burh in Dorset. Inside that ancient ribbon stands a castle mound built upon demolished houses, where a small square keep once rose above the bailey. The town did not grow around the castle; the castle came later to claim the strongest corner of an already fortified life.

The National Heritage List for England records Part of the defences of the Anglo-Saxon fortified centre of Wareham and part of the motte and bailey castle with shell keep as a scheduled monument. The saved point comes from the centre supplied by the official record. Listing does not by itself mean that the public may enter the place.

Built by the Anglo-Saxons and later adapted into a motte and bailey castle with a shell keep, likely during the 11th or 12th century. It is important as a rare surviving example of the transition from Anglo-Saxon to Norman military architecture in southern England.

The historic-place record does not grant public access. Check current conditions and ownership before entering land or a building.