Rufus Castle With Bridge
RUFUS CASTLE WITH BRIDGE, CHURCH OPE ROAD
Listed on the National Heritage List for England. Search over 400,000 listed places
Overview
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1280727
- Date first listed:
- 16-Jan-1951
- List Entry Name:
- Rufus Castle With Bridge
- Statutory Address:
- RUFUS CASTLE WITH BRIDGE, CHURCH OPE ROAD
Location
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Images of England Project
- Date:
- 2001-09-06
- Reference:
- IOE01/05395/35
- Rights:
- © Mr Reg Perry. Source: Historic England Archive
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Discover moreOfficial list entry
- Heritage Category:
- Listed Building
- Grade:
- I
- List Entry Number:
- 1280727
- Date first listed:
- 16-Jan-1951
- Date of most recent amendment:
- 17-May-1993
- List Entry Name:
- Rufus Castle With Bridge
- Statutory Address 1:
- RUFUS CASTLE WITH BRIDGE, CHURCH OPE ROAD
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:
- RUFUS CASTLE WITH BRIDGE, CHURCH OPE ROAD
The building or site itself may lie within the boundary of more than one authority.
- District:
- Dorset (Unitary Authority)
- Parish:
- Portland
- National Grid Reference:
- SY 69757 71175
Details
PORTLAND
SY6871 CHURCH OPE ROAD, Easton 969-1/4/32 (South side) 16/01/51 Rufus Castle with bridge
I
Formerly known as: Bow and Arrow Castle CHURCH OPE ROAD. Castle. Present structure probably late C15, on site of earlier building captured in 1142 by Earl Robert of Gloucester. The approach bridge and present entry archway are C19, and were already here in 1842. Squared and snecked Portland stone, unroofed. An irregular pentagon with remains of an outer bailey contained by remaining section of wall to SW; connected by lofty C19 round-arched bridge to high land across Church Ope Road, to the north. Remaining keep has C19 round-arched entry across this bridge; walls have many regularly-spaced putlog holes. The 'Tudor' arched entry to the SW was inserted by John Penn, of the adjacent Pennsylvania Castle. There are a few remaining stones of the former machicolation on the W and N walls, and the walls generally run to full height, but some of the SE wall has fallen away. The N and W walls also have series of round gun-ports, with embrasures behind. RCHM notes chamfered stone jamb of SE doorway. The outer bailey wall follows the land slope, and is from c 1m to c 1.5m high, to rounded coping. (Royal Commission on Historical Monuments: Dorset: London: 1970-: 252-4; Buildings of England: Pevsner N and Newman J: Dorset: London: 1972-1989: 342).
Listing NGR: SY6975771175
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
- Legacy System number:
- 381924
- Legacy System:
- LBS
Sources
Books and journals
Inventory of Dorset, (1970), 252-4
Pevsner, N, Newman, J, The Buildings of England: Dorset, (1972), 342
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 09-Jun-2026 at 14:18:38.
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