The Constable's House
Christchurch, Dorset UK.
Within the curtain wall of the castle stands the Constable’s Hall, known more commonly as Constable’s House, a Grade I listed Norman dwelling. Much of the building’s stonework remains, including a rare example of a Norman chimney and the privy which extends out across the mill stream. Constable’s House probably built about 1160 of stone and was defended by cross bow loops to the north and east, covering the Avon. The ground floor was a storeroom, whilst the first floor hall was the room in which men lived and slept with a portion to the south enclosed as a Solar, or private chamber, for the feudal family women and children. The hall had a large fireplace with a fine Norman chimney, one of only five examples in England. A stair tower in the north east corner of the wall lead from the ground to the crenellated wall walk from which long bow archers could command the Avon at the river crossing at Town Bridge. The roof of the Hall was probably covered with Plympton slate. The main entrance to the Hall was from a wooden stairway inside the bailey. Constable’s House underwent a number of improvements over time. A toilet, or garde robe, was built over the millstream to provide the facility to the private chamber on the first floor. A doorway was cut through the east wall of the storeroom to enable direct access to the millstream when Baldwin de Redvers made an agreement in 1257 with Christchurch Priory to enable his boats free passage along the millstream. This gave access for casks of wine to be reloaded at Town Quay onto flat bottomed salmon punts which could enter the Mill Stream via Gin Door, which became a fish trap.
Text curtesy of The Christchurch History Society.
The Constable's House
Christchurch, Dorset UK.
Within the curtain wall of the castle stands the Constable’s Hall, known more commonly as Constable’s House, a Grade I listed Norman dwelling. Much of the building’s stonework remains, including a rare example of a Norman chimney and the privy which extends out across the mill stream. Constable’s House probably built about 1160 of stone and was defended by cross bow loops to the north and east, covering the Avon. The ground floor was a storeroom, whilst the first floor hall was the room in which men lived and slept with a portion to the south enclosed as a Solar, or private chamber, for the feudal family women and children. The hall had a large fireplace with a fine Norman chimney, one of only five examples in England. A stair tower in the north east corner of the wall lead from the ground to the crenellated wall walk from which long bow archers could command the Avon at the river crossing at Town Bridge. The roof of the Hall was probably covered with Plympton slate. The main entrance to the Hall was from a wooden stairway inside the bailey. Constable’s House underwent a number of improvements over time. A toilet, or garde robe, was built over the millstream to provide the facility to the private chamber on the first floor. A doorway was cut through the east wall of the storeroom to enable direct access to the millstream when Baldwin de Redvers made an agreement in 1257 with Christchurch Priory to enable his boats free passage along the millstream. This gave access for casks of wine to be reloaded at Town Quay onto flat bottomed salmon punts which could enter the Mill Stream via Gin Door, which became a fish trap.
Text curtesy of The Christchurch History Society.