Durlston Head Castle
DURLSTON HEAD CASTLE
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1152288
- Date first listed:
- 21-Mar-1983
- List Entry Name:
- Durlston Head Castle
- Statutory Address:
- DURLSTON HEAD CASTLE
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2002-06-03
- Reference:
- IOE01/07074/01
- Rights:
- © Mr Martin Roberts. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- II
- List Entry Number:
- 1152288
- Date first listed:
- 21-Mar-1983
- List Entry Name:
- Durlston Head Castle
- Statutory Address 1:
- DURLSTON HEAD CASTLE
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
The scope of legal protection for listed buildings
This List entry helps identify the building designated at this address for its special architectural or historic interest.
Unless the List entry states otherwise, it includes both the structure itself and any object or structure fixed to it (whether inside or outside) as well as any object or structure within the curtilage of the building.
For these purposes, to be included within the curtilage of the building, the object or structure must have formed part of the land since before 1st July 1948.
Location
- Statutory Address:
- DURLSTON HEAD CASTLE
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Dorset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Swanage
- National Grid Reference:
- SZ 03396 77264
Details
DURLSTON HEAD 1. 5190 Durlston Head Castle SZ 08 NW 2/48 II GV
2. Dated 1887 ihi a sundial fixed to the wall. Built by George Burt as the restaurant for a holiday complex, the rest of which was never completed. Built of Purbeck Stone in a castle form. Rectangular central block. Above the ground floor is a moulded cornice with 4 ball finials, 4 pilasters with reeded capitals. Three light casements and a round-headed doorcase now with glazed porch. Above the ground floor is a large glazed belvedere and at its angles are 4 octagonal stone turrets masking chimneys with pseudo-machicolation. To the south the building has a steep battered plinth and has a resticated basement. There is a sundial and 2 tablets on this elevation. A curtain wall extends to the east having 2 towers with battered walls and bartizans. Against this wall is a stone lean-to, probably originally a coach house supported on 2 cast iron Persian columns and 5 slender columns with plumed capitals. The interior has a circular iron staircase. The forecourt wall incorporates 3 tapering cylindrical gate piers each one having one word of 'Durlston Head Castle' inscribed. The building has interests as an early example of a planned holiday complex and local historical interest.
Listing NGR: SZ0339677264
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 108174
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Legal
This building is listed under the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 as amended for its special architectural or historic interest.
Map
This map is for quick reference purposes only and may not be to scale. This copy shows the entry on 06-Jun-2026 at 13:06:58.
Download a full scale map (PDF)End of official list entry
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