Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle once controlled the Isle of Purbeck, a thousand-year-old castle, that was destroyed during the English Civil War when Parliamentary forces sieged the castle that was only taken over after betrayal within. The wife of Sir John Bankes led the defence and gained the name ‘Brave Dame Mary’.

Corfe Castle is roughly triangular in shape and started existence in the 11th Century. The inner ward contained the castle’s keep, which was built partly on the enclosure’s curtain wall. Attached to the keep’s west face is a forebuilding containing a stair through which the tower was entered. On the south side is an extension with a guardroom and a chapel. To the east of the keep, is the ruins of a building known as the gloriette.

You then also have the remains of the west bailey, the stone wall with three towers, dating from 1202 to 1204 when it was refortified.

Facilities include a car park, information points, tea rooms, and a shop.