Canterbury Castle

Has been described as a Certain Masonry Castle

There are masonry ruins/remnants remains

NameCanterbury Castle
Alternative NamesCanterburie
Historic CountryKent
Modern AuthorityKent
1974 AuthorityKent
Civil ParishCanterbury

Canterbury Castle was built as a royal castle circa 1085-1125. It was used as a prison from circa 1293, however by 1335 the castle was largely in ruins. The castle walls and gates were demolished in 1792 and the medieval topography was gradually destroyed. The square keep and a small portion of the bailey wall of circa 1085 are the only part still standing. However, other sections of the castle have been located by recent excavations. Canterbury Castle stood in the south of the town just within the city wall, which formed the south boundary of its inner bailey. The square Norman keep is made of bands of flint and Caen stone blocks. There were originally four arched windows to each side. The interior has two cross walls and the remains of spiral staircases in the east and south-west wall and of fireplaces of rubble set in a herringbone pattern have survived. The keep measures 87 by 75 feet externally and the walls are 9 feet thick. The other defences consisted of a rectangular curtain wall with angle turrets and a ditch, entered through two gates. The approximate alignment of the bailey defences can be seen here as a break in slope of the ground surface behind oast houses south of Gas Lane. (PastScape)

The remains of a square Norman keep. 2 storeys above ground level (it was reduced in height in 1817) built in bands of flint and Caen stone blocks. There were originally 4 arched windows to each side. The interior has 2 cross walls and the remains of spiral staircases in the east and south-west wall. Remains of fireplaces of rubble set in a herringbone pattern. The keep measures 87 by 75 feet externally and the walls are 9 ft thick. (Listed Building Report)

Gatehouse Comments

The relationship with the adjacent Dane John mound is a matter of some discussion which effects the dating of the castle. If the Dane John was a motte (either new built or adapted from a burial mound) then it may be thought unlikely this site dates from as early as 1085, but timber castles could be built quickly and some did have very short lives and 19 years after the Conquest could fit with the short life of some such castles.

- Philip Davis

This site is a scheduled monument protected by law

This is a Grade 1 listed building protected by law

Historic England Scheduled Monument Number
Historic England Listed Building number(s)
Images Of England
Historic England (PastScape) Defra or Monument number(s)
County Historic Environment Record
OS Map Grid ReferenceTR145574
Latitude51.2756118774414
Longitude1.07456994056702
Eastings614540
Northings157430
HyperLink HyperLink HyperLink

Castlefacts3