The Great Chamber is one of the towns most prominant buildings, sited opposite
the Kings Arms Hotel it forms one corner of the triangle in which sits
our bowling green which must be one if not the most beautiful places to
have a bowling green in England if not the world. The other corners are
represented by the castle and the Priory.
My photographs show the view from the bowling green entrance, from the
road bridge over the Mill Stream and from the Mill Stream path between
the Mill Stream and the river Avon.
The plaque outside the Great Chamber, (shown at the foot of this page)
describes some of the history. Again a ruin but one that should not be
missed by the visitor.
The plaque says:
Across a period of 500 years Christchurch gradually took on the form it still shows today. The Great Priory Church occupied the prime position nearest to the river. Beside it the late Saxon town was defended by timber walls and gates, the buildings arranged along a regular grid of streets with garden plots behind.
Into this orderly arrangement the Normans built a castle. This involved
diverting the main east-west street so as to make room for the great earth
mound carrying a timber tower. Between the mound and the river a defended
courtyard containing the residential buildings of the castle.
During the course of the 12th century most of the castle building and defences
were rebuilt in stone. The old wooden tower on top of the earth mound was
replaced by a great stone keep whose remains can still be seen. Of the
buildings in the courtyard, only the great Chamber still remains.
This information is provided by Mr B.G. Drye