Corfe Castle
Coordinates: 50°38′25″N 2°03′34″W / 50.64028°N 2.05944°W
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Corfe Castle is a small village and ruined castle dating back to the 11th century. It is in a gap in the Purbeck Hills, 5 miles (8.0 km) south of Wareham, in Dorset, England.
The oldest surviving structure on the castle site dates to the 11th century, although there are good reasons to suppose that there was a stronghold there before the Norman Conquest. Edward the Martyr was killed at the site on March 18, 978.[1]
The castle was besieged in the English Civil War. After it was captured it was partly demolished (slighted).[2]
Corfe Castle Media
Ordnance Survey map of Corfe Castle in 1856, showing the castle and village in the gap of the Purbeck Hills
Corfe's keep (left) dates from the early 12th century.
The south-west gatehouse, which allowed access from the outer bailey to the west bailey, dates from the mid 13th century.
Lady Mary Bankes defended the castle during two sieges in the English Civil War.
In the 17th century Corfe Castle was slighted by order of parliament.
Corfe Castle's outer gatehouse
Corfe Castle in 1980 before the bequest of the castle, and subsequent restoration
A plan of Corfe Castle from 1586, drawn up by Ralph Treswell
References
- ↑ "Corfe Castle, Dorset: Excavation History", Pastscape, English Heritage, retrieved 2012-01-05
- ↑ Donagan, Barbara (2010). War in England 1642-1649. Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 88. ISBN 9780191614170.
Other websites
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