Corfe Castle in Dorset has stood on Castle Hill for more than a thousand years. It is located at a strategic strong point at a break in the Purbeck Hills, with Byle Brook to the east and Wicken stream to the west.

Corfe Castle was designed to protect Wareham from the Danes. Construction probably started around AD 871 during the reign of King Alfred.

In AD 978, the boy King Edward was murdered at Corfe Castle by his step mother at Edward's Gate, now the south west gatehouse, thereby allowing her son, Ethelred the Unready, to become king.

A Norman Castle was built on the site in AD 1090, and in 1199 the infamous King John, of Magna Carta fame, decided to locate his treasury at Corfe Castle.

As a strong point, Corfe Castle was almost impregnable. Its downfall in the Civil War between King Charles and Parliament resulted from an act of treachery by the Royalist Officer Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Pittman.

Lady Bankes had successfully defended Corfe Castle against all comers, until dastardly Tom let the enemy into the Castle under the guise of reinforcements.

Subsequently Parliament ordered the destruction of Corfe Castle. Despite months spent with gunpowder trying to reduce the castle, a great deal still remains.

Corfe Castle is beautiful with many picturesque stone cottages and character Inns, in particular, the Greyhound Inn and the Bankes Arms, named after the heroic Lady Bankes and her husband the Attorney General Sir John Bankes who purchased the castle in 1634.

Corfe Castle also claims to have the smallest town hall building in England, the Parish Museum being located on the ground floor.

Last but not least, this shows the bridge for the Swanage Railway.

Why not visit Corfe Castle, park the car and take a trip into Swanage on the Steam Train?

See the National Trust web site:-

Corfe Castle