We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Culinary

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is Corfe Castle?

By Glyn Sinclair
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 6,000
Share

Corfe Castle is situated in a strategic gap in the Purbeck hills and at one time defended the county of Dorset, England, against attacks by sea. William the Conqueror began building the castle in 1066, shortly after he arrived in Britain. King John added defenses to the castle between 1199 and 1216 and it served to house prisoners during this time as well. In 1646 a siege laid waste to the castle and the result is the ruins that remain to this day. Nature soon took over the landscape and visitors began to flock to the historic site, from Victorians to modern-day tourists.

Sir Christopher Hatton bought the castle from Queen Elizabeth I in 1572, and he converted it into a private residence. In 1635, Sir John Bankes bought Corfe Castle, and his wife, Mary Bankes, who after successfully defending the castle from an initial six-week long siege in 1643, lost the structure to a second siege in 1646. The Parliamentarians who occupied most of Dorset at the time allowed the family to leave unharmed. They then systematically destroyed the castle.

Sir Ralph Bankes, the son of Sir John Bankes, managed to save many of their belongings and the family built a new home west of Wimborne, in Dorset. The castle was owned by the Bankes family until 1982. It was then given over to the National Trust. Many of the houses in the surrounding Corfe Castle village still have the demolished castle’s stone as part of their construction.

King John used the castle for his royal treasury, yet this was not the only treasure that he kept there. He also had his niece, Princess Eleanor, imprisoned there. King John turned Corfe Castle into a sumptuous royal residence and created gardens to grow his food. Today, visitors are able to look up at the old defenses and see what was termed as “murder holes,” where defending soldiers used to throw rocks down on the enemy. The walls still bear the scars of arrows that struck the battlements.

The ruins of Corfe Castle are situated high on a chalk hill and are surrounded by a defensive ditch. Visitors are able to look out over the same vistas that kings and queens of old gazed upon for hundreds of years. Today, the National Trust oversees the castle and is tasked with strengthening the ruins and excavating to uncover more of the castle’s secrets. The castle is open to visitors all year round, seven days a week.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-corfe-castle.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.