EDO5177 - Highcliffe Castle, Christchurch; earthwork survey 1987-1989

Mr Thomas C. Welsh noted some low earthworks in Highcliffe Castle grounds at some time prior to the 12th March 1988. The earthworks comprised a slightly curving 'screening bank' lying south of the castle with its open side facing to the cliff. The bank was up to 2m high in places, 12-20m broad and extending from SZ20209310 to SZ20449313. It appeared to have been cut by the castle's sunken gardens. Thomas Welsh suggested that the bank may form part of the landscaping for an earlier building on the site, located to the south of the present castle as shown on Milne's 1791 county map of Hampshire. Further earthworks were noted in an area of Rhododendrons at SZ20279306, at the approximate focus of the curved bank described above. These comprised a number of minor earthworks which may relate to the original house itself. These are centred on a possible ornamental tree-ring bank, a circular enclosure with the NW perimiter projected as an angle.