Maiden Castle

Maiden Castle was built in 450BC AD

Castle Lane, Dorchester

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Although we are pushing at the boundaries of the definition of a castle here, Maiden Castle is included because it is the largest Iron Age hill fort in Europe and never fails to impress visitors.

The 'Mai Dun' (from the cletic for 'great hill') is 47 acres of enclosed hilltop enclosed by awsome ramparts reaching up to six metres high.

The castle as we see it today dates from around 450 - 300 BC.

When the Romans invaded Britain in 43 AD, Maiden Castle was inhabited by the Durotriges tribe. After a bloody battle with Vespasian's troops the castle was lost to the invaders who stormed the Eastern gateway. In nearby Dorchester Museum you can still see the bones of one of the poor defenders who died with a Roman iron arrowhead embedded in his back.

Maiden Castle is situated about 2 miles southwest of Dorchester in Dorset and is open to the public all year round.

One of the great medieval castles of England.

 

 

 

Acton Burnell Castle,   Alnwick Castle,   Amberley Castle,   Bamburgh Castle,   Banbury Castle,   Barnard Castle,   Beaumys Castle,   Bellister Castle,   Bewcastle Castle,   Boarstall Castle,   Bodiam Castle,   Bolingbroke Castle,   Brancepeth Castle,   Bury Castle,   Cadbury Castle,   Cambridge Castle,   Castle Drogo,   Castle Howard,   Chillingham Castle,   Cholmondeley Castle,   Cockermouth Castle,   Colchester Castle,   Corfe Castle,   Croft Castle,   Deal Castle,   Devizes Castle,   Donnington Castle,   Dover Castle,   Dudley Castle,   Dunstanburgh Castle,   Dunster Castle,   Ellesmere Castle,   Farnham Castle,   Framlingham Castle,   Guildford Castle,   Hedingham Castle,   Herstmonceux Castle,   Hertford Castle,   Hever Castle,   Hinton Castle,   Hopton Castle,   Hurst Castle,   Kenilworth Castle,   Kimbolton Castle,   Launceston Castle,   Leeds Castle,   Lincoln Castle,   Lullingstone Castle,   Maiden Castle,   Mountfitchet Castle,   Naworth Castle,   Newark Castle,   Nottingham Castle,   Oxford Castle,   Peckforton Castle,   Pendinnis Castle,   Perborough Castle,   Peveril Castle,   Pickering Castle,   Prideaux Castle,   Raby Castle,   Restormel Castle,   Ripley Castle,   Rochester Castle,   Rockingham Castle,   Rowton Castle,   Sidbury Castle,   St. Mawes Castle,   Sudeley Castle,   Tamworth Castle,   The Tower of London,   Tintagel Castle,   Tintagel Castle,   Tiverton Castle,   Tong Castle,   Torrington Castle,   Wallingford Castle,   Walmer Castle,   Warkworth Castle,   Warwick Castle,   Windsor Castle,   Witton Castle,   Wollaston Castle,   Woodbury Castle,   York Castle,