Old Wardour Castle
The ruins of a fourteenth-century castle associated with the Arundell family, set beside a lake and distinguished by an unusual six-sided arrangement.
The ruins of a fourteenth-century castle associated with the Arundell family, set beside a lake and distinguished by an unusual six-sided arrangement.
Register entry — OLD WARDOUR CASTLE. National Heritage List for England reference: 1183429. Recorded designation: Grade I listed building.
First listed: 1951-10-25. This is the listing date, not a construction date.
Source: https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1183429
The register identity was cross-checked against the official record name, coordinates and grade on 21 October 2026.
An English editorial overview and visiting guidance are available in this dossier. Check the linked official information for current opening times, access and booking arrangements.
Record
- Medieval castle ruins
- United Kingdom
- Tisbury
- South West England
- other
- 1951-10-25
Editorial reading
English Heritage identifies Old Wardour as a fourteenth-century castle and a former Arundell family home. Its surviving walls retain evidence of a fortified residence rather than simply an isolated defensive tower. The site's interpretation brings together domestic ambition, conflict and subsequent survival as a ruin.
The lakeside setting and Gothic Grotto contribute another layer to the visitor experience. They should be read alongside the medieval remains without assuming that every landscape feature belongs to the original castle's construction. The name Old Wardour also matters: this dossier concerns the ruined castle, not a different later country house.
Our editorial reading: compare the distinctive ground plan with the relationship between the ruins and their setting. A romantic present-day appearance can obscure the practical domestic and defensive functions of a medieval residence.
Source: https://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/old-wardour-castle/ (checked 21 October 2026).
Recommendation
Consult English Heritage's current admission and accessibility information before visiting. Allow time for the ruins and surrounding setting, and use the official guidance when deciding which paths and internal routes are suitable.
Location and visiting
Confirm current opening times, access and reservations with the place itself. These details follow the source record.
Sources & credits
Source record: Wikidata
Source record: Eigen redactie
Source record: National Heritage List for England (Historic England)
Source record: Wikimedia Commons
Explore the region
Based on the recorded country and region. Europe’s regional grouping is an editorial choice. Open the English regional collection to explore places across the Mondes and linked publications.