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

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.                Photo: David Packman

A step back in time. Corfe Castle and village as you might have seen it in 1645. The model village was built to 1/20th scale in 1964 by local man Eddie Holland and faithfully recreates both castle and village using Purbeck stone.

Photo: David Packman

The model of the 13th century parish church of St Edward King and Martyr.         Photo: David Packman

Photo: David Packman

One of Swanage Railway's trains winds its way through the Dorset countryside. The railway runs regular services between Norden, near Corfe Castle and Swanage.                                 Photo: David Packman

Photo: David Packman