The ruins of Corfe Castle, on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, rise on a hill guarding the only gap in the surrounding hills, above a village of grey stone houses. For centuries it was one of the most important fortresses in England, the scene of a royal murder and of a heroic siege during the Civil War, after which it was blown up. Its broken walls, leaning at spectacular angles, are among the most photogenic ruins in the country. Today it belongs to the National Trust.
History
Already in Saxon times there was a royal residence on this hill. According to the chronicles, in 978 the young King Edward, later known as the Martyr, was murdered here, perhaps on the orders of his stepmother Ælfthryth, who wanted her own son Æthelred on the throne. After the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror built a castle, one of the first in stone in England, and his successors enlarged it. King John used it as a residence, treasury and prison, and according to tradition starved some twenty noble prisoners to death here.
In 1635 the castle was bought by the Bankes family. During the English Civil War, while her husband was away with the king, Lady Mary Bankes defended the castle against the Parliamentarian troops, withstanding a first siege in 1643 and a second in 1645 to 1646. The castle fell only through the treachery of an officer of the garrison. Parliament then ordered it to be demolished with explosives, so that it could never again serve as a fortress. In 1982 the Bankes family left the castle to the National Trust.
- 978King Edward the Martyr is murdered at Corfe
- c. 1090William the Conqueror or his sons build the stone castle
- 1635The Bankes family buys the castle
- 1643Lady Mary Bankes withstands the first siege
- 1646The castle falls and is blown up
- 1982The castle passes to the National Trust
What to see
The ruins
You enter by the bridge and the outer gatehouse, then climb through the various wards to the top of the hill. Along the way you see the leaning towers, split in two by the explosions of 1646, the remains of the great Norman keep and of the "Gloriette", the elegant residence built by King John. From the top the view sweeps over the village, the Purbeck Hills and the countryside as far as Poole Harbour. Panels and small reconstructions tell of life in the castle, and in summer medieval re-enactments are held.
The village
The village of Corfe Castle is built of grey Purbeck stone, some of it taken from the ruins after the demolition. There are pubs, tea rooms and a model village that reproduces the castle as it was before its destruction. Enid Blyton is said to have been inspired by Corfe for Kirrin Castle in her Famous Five books.
The steam railway
The Swanage Railway, a heritage line with steam trains, links Corfe Castle with the seaside town of Swanage. From the train and the station you get one of the finest views of the castle.
Practical information
The castle is open all year round; National Trust members enter free. The paths are steep and uneven. Opening times and prices are on the National Trust website.
Getting there
- By bus: from Poole and Bournemouth on the Purbeck Breezer bus.
- By train: to Wareham, then a bus; or on the Swanage Railway on operating days.
- By car: along the A351; car parks in the village.
- By air: Bournemouth Airport is about 40 minutes away.
Nearby
- Durdle Door, Lulworth Cove and the Jurassic Coast.
- Swanage and the white stacks of Old Harry Rocks.
- The Studland nature reserve, with beaches and dunes.
Tips
- How long: an hour and a half for the castle, half a day with the village and the railway.
- When to go: all year round; on misty mornings the ruins emerge as if in a dream.
- A tip: climb West Hill, behind the village, to photograph the castle with a steam train passing below.