Ludgershall Castle — Attraction in Ludgershall

Lugershall Castle and Cross is a 11th Century fortified landmark built to be complemented to the surrounding area of Lugershall’s medieval city defences. This building was believed to be built or oversee’d by the Sheriff of Wiltshire; Edward of Salisbury, though their is not much historical data to who actually did.

Sadly all that remains is the remnants of a tower and the outlines of the adjoining buildings, to which the building itself is metal barriered to prevent access to it’s small inner square tower.

You will question yourself when trying to find the castle as it is about a 10 minute walk from the very few car park spaces outside the grounds, near the main road. If you carry on around the path, clearly used for walking purposes you arrive at what seems to be a moat style hill which bends around a corner and brings the ruins into sight. It turns out that this hill was actually quarried then replanted to preserve some nature around the area.

Overall, if you want to learn the history, their isn’t much information apart from the entrance by the carpark has a small plaque with basic information and we recommend if you wish to learn more to lookup information online.

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A lovely spot to visit with family or for dog walking. However, some of it is pretty neglected these days. The massive amount of cow parsley in the outer earthworks is left to rot down at the end of spring and this outer area is only cut once a year at the beginning of winter. It has also been rendered somewhat inaccessible to those with a wheelchair / scooter / child buggy owing to the fact that the large gates for maintenance access have been padlocked shut with large chains.

On contacting English Heritage, I was told it's to prevent those who were bringing trial bikes and cars (!) onto the grounds. It hasn't stopped people from bringing bikes on as the fence slats have been torn out to get access. I have never seen any evidence of cars. The only 'official' access is through a series of small kissing gates, completely useless to anyone with accessibility issues.

Another plus point is that the whole area has a good network of public footpaths which are easily navigated due to the local farmers leaving a wide strip at the edge...

In terms of rural idyll, it is a fantastic ruin to explore, especially in the summer. It is tucked away in a corner of the village with fortifications from the Middle ages still visible. It is however ruined by the trash left mostly by the local youths who use the ruins as a hangout, a place of 'trysts', impromptu parties and all that implies (since entrance is free and there is no caretaker that manages the place day to day). Perhaps English Heritage can do just a little more to make the most of the place as they do Old Sarum. Henry III's favorite castle's romantic ruins could probably be maximized to tell the stories of the past just a little...