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Page 2 ~ Corfe Castle, Dorset
 

In 1635 Corfe Castle passed in to the hands of Sir John Bankes, Lord Chief Justice to King Charles I and stayed in the Bankes family until 1981 when it was bequeathed to the National Trust.

 

The main entrance over the bridge towards the Outer Gatehouse, built between 1280-85 it was originally twice as high as it is today. Most of what you can now see is due to the efforts of three Kings; Henry I, John and Henry III.

 

Parties of school children entering the castle on an educational visit.

 

The view a defender might have seen centuries ago.


Castle Keep - All that's left of the Keep built by King Henry I around 1105. During the English Civil War most of Dorset was under the rule of Cromwell's Parliamentary forces, but Corfe Castle belonged to the Royalist Bankes family. After the death of her husband in 1644 Lady Bankes continued to hold out against enemy forces. During a further siege in 1646 she was eventually betrayed when enemy soldiers disguised as Royalists entered the castle and Lady Bankes was forced to surrender. After its capture the House of Commons voted to have the castle demolished. After much undermining and the use of very large quantities of gunpowder the castle was left in the state you see today.

 

 

 

It seems Cromwell's Parliamentary forces did a good job of destroying the castle.

 

Doves (of peace) high on the castle ruins.

 

 

 

The Swanage Railway's Battle of Britain Class Locomotive "Manston" arriving at Corfe station on its way to Swanage from Norden Park and Ride.

 

Another of the Swanage Railway's locomotives arriving at Corfe from Norden Park and Ride.

 

The "Famous Five" books of Enid Blyton were set in Corfe Castle
and the surrounding area. Anyone for Ginger Beer?

 

Having picked up its passengers at Corfe this train continues on its way to Swanage, but we're heading a few miles north to Wareham.


Wareham, Page Three -  Please click here  

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Caption details are based on the latest available  information and are accurate to the best of my knowledge. Although the images are very heavily compressed you are welcome to use them for your own non-commercial use. If you do please credit HampshireCam or add a link  to these pages.

All Photographs copyright David Packman © 2002 - 2009 (All Rights Reserved)