A market town set between the rivers Stour and Avon, Christchurch has been settled since at least the Iron Age, and during the Saxon period it became a 'burh', or fortified town. The remains of a Norman castle keep look down on the river from atop a high mound, or motte.
Below the keep is The Great Chamber, a stone building that was once one of the castle buildings.
There was a monastery here in the Middle Ages, and the current parish church once served the monks of Christchurch Priory.
The church was begun around 1094 and rebuilt in 1510 in Perpendicular style. At 311 feet in length it is the longest parish church in the country. It was awarded a 5-star rating in Simon Jenkin's book, 'England's Thousand Best Churches'.
About Christchurch
Address: Christchurch, Dorset, England
Attraction Type: Town
Location map
OS: SZ 1592 9262
Photo Credit: Nigel Freeman, licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence
HERITAGE
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and learn more about major time periods mentioned.
Historic Time Periods:
Find other attractions tagged with:
castle (Architecture) - castle (Architecture) - Iron Age (Architecture) - Iron Age (Architecture) - Norman (Architecture) - Norman (Architecture) - Perpendicular (Architecture) - Perpendicular (Architecture) - Saxon (Time Period) - Saxon (Time Period) - Victorian (Time Period)
NEARBY HISTORIC ATTRACTIONS
Heritage Rated from 1- 5 (low to exceptional) on historic interest
Christchurch Castle - 0.1 miles (Castle) 
Highcliffe Castle - 2.8 miles (Historic House)
Russell-Cotes Art Gallery and Museum - 4.3 miles (Museum)
Compton Acres - 6.8 miles (Garden) 
Knoll Gardens - 7.7 miles (Garden)
Brownsea Island - 8.5 miles (Countryside) 
Studland, St Nicholas Church - 9.9 miles (Historic Church) 
Hurst Castle - 10 miles (Castle)
Nearest Holiday Cottages to Christchurch:
