WORK costing almost a quarter of £1m to secure the remains of a hidden medieval castle near Winchester is now complete.

A £240,700 grant from Historic England funded the specialist repairs, repointing and the introduction of soft capping to the Medieval motte and bailey Merdon Castle, near Hursley.

Works have also taken place to make safe, cap and consolidate a 400ft “bottomless” well, dating from the same period.

The castle is little-known as it is on private land and is rarely open to the public.

Before the work took place, the schedule was overgrown, with stonework becoming loose. The improvements aim to stabilize the structure and allow it to be removed from the Heritage at Risk Register.

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Elspeth Faulkner, architect at Historic England, said: “Merdon Castle has spent many years on the Heritage at Risk Register, and it was critical that a programme of repairs was undertaken now to avoid further loss.

"A new partnership with Winchester University holds exciting possibilities for discovering more about this historic site while helping students develop important skills.”

Dr Monika Knul, from the university, said: “We’re delighted that, together with the owners and Historic England, we have been able to introduce Merdon Castle to our students through their study of archaeological field techniques. We’re excited to expand this programme so that students, and the monument itself, benefit in the long term.”

The total project cost £288,840, with the additional funding of around £48,000 provided by the landowner.

It is believed that Merdon Castle was built between 1129 and 1138 by Henry de Blois, Bishop of Winchester, during the reign of his brother, Stephen, the last Norman king of England. The Castle was partly demolished in 1155 on the accession of Henry II but was used as a bishop's palace until at least the 14th century. The Medieval castle was built within the ramparts of an earlier hillfort which is believed to date back to the Late Bronze Age or Early Iron Age (8th to 5th centuries BC).

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Last year, the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) used the site as part of a practical session on traditional building limes and their uses.

Winchester University is now using the site for teaching students survey skills including laser scanning and ground penetrating radar, project management, and analysis.

The castle is on private land and is usually closed to the public. However, regular community walks are arranged by the landowner to allow people to see the site up close and understand its history.

A collection of local people and interest groups, including WARG, the society for Winchester archaeology and local history, are working with the landowner to help maintain the site.