Corfe Castle is a stunning fortification standing on a hill in the village of Corfe, on the Isle of Purbeck, in the Brit county of Dorset.

Corfe Castle was built by William the Conqueror for his son King Henry I, and dates to the 11th century.  It is situated on a gap in the Purbeck Hills, between Wareham and Swanage.  A trip to Corfe from where I live in Poole (southwest England), takes about a half hour drive west.  From London to Corfe, about a 3 ½ hour drive southwest. 

Corfe Castle was designed to protect from invasion from the coast, with its passage through the Purbeck Hills from Swanage to Wareham.  The surrounding landscape has many Bronze Age burial sites, and the National Trust has banned metal detectors from being used on the site!  

The cause of Corfe Castle’s current ruined state came with the English Civil War. Having survived one siege in 1643, it would fall to another only 3 years later, before being intentionally damaged by the Parliamentarians.  During the civil war Lady Mary Bankes led the defense of Corfe Castle during not just one, but two sieges, while her husband was away serving the King.  Mary, along with her daughters and maids, defended the battlements until she was betrayed by one of her own soldiers!

Today, the site is protected and maintained by England’s National Trust.

https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/dorset/corfe-castle

Visitors, for a small entrance fee, can walk around the grounds and explore the ruins.  When I visited there have been free activities as well, from practicing with a bow and arrow (against a small wooden target with a suction cupped arrow), to dress up days for the kiddies, with plastic shields and emblazoned tunics! 

The welcome center can provide information to enhance your visit and there is also a second-hand book shop and hot and cold drinks are available for purchase.   The Village Shop also has some gifts, clothing items and toys for the kiddies available for purchase. This site is also dog friendly! (but dogs must be on short leashes)

Visitors can bring picnic lunches to enjoy at the Old Mill picnic area or stop by the Village Tea Room and have a traditional Cream Tea! 

You can certainly enjoy a full day at Corfe Castle.  Wander the grounds, immerse yourself in the history, enjoy a picnic lunch or have a bite at the café.  This is a must for photography buffs, the views are stunning, and the ruins are amazing.  Use your imagination and picture the lifestyles of the people and the culture that came before…

I hope you are enjoying my posts, thoughts and sharings!  Please subscribe to follow my insights by clicking on the link below and by entering your email address at the bottom of the link.  You’ll receive emails from me when I post! 

yankeebrit.blog

Or use your existing WordPress account or sign up now and follow me there!  Once you subscribe via email or create a WordPress account and follow me at the link below, you can select “Reader” and see all my posts!!

https://wordpress.com/read/feeds/137707474

You can also follow me on Facebook at yankeebrit.blog:

https://www.facebook.com/yankeebrit.blog

Or pop me an email with comments. thoughts, questions:

ams@yankeebrit.blog