Corfe

Corfe Castle, gateway to Purbeck, tucked quietly away on the Dorset coast, though a castle which crops up again and again in the national story. In it's day it was regarded as one of the most tenacious of castles in the country, founded by William the Conqueror, it served at different times as a home, a weapons store, a prison and a mint, as a royal stronghold it withstood sieges in both civil wars, and never fell in battle, finally falling to treachery and subsequently slighted by order of parliament.  It is the most archetypal and romantic of ruined medieval castles.

Corfe

Corfe, the castle they couldn't take, one of the most formidable castles in the realm and one which was never taken nor slighted in battle. The romantic ruins set in the Purbeck hills you see today are the consequence of what happened after battle, not through it. The castle was held by the Royalists during the second Civil War to great effect, untouchable and unaffected by the Parliamentarian attacks and siege, the castle only fell through an act of betrayal. Afterwards the Parliamentarians set about ensuring the castle could never be used against them again, with mining and explosives, though still it remains defiantly.  Corfe has a fascinating history and is well worth a visit and read up.

Corfe Castles

The majestic, even in desolation, Corfe Castle, with the earthen siege castle visible in the foreground. I've mentioned before that Corfe was a royal castle and reckoned one of the strongest in the country, as such, it's seen its fair share of action. The siege castle was first thrown up in 1139, when whilst being held for Matilda, it was put under siege by King Stephen; the castle withstood the siege unslighted. In 1643 the siege castle was put to use again when this time being held by Lady Bankes for the royalists the castle was laid siege to by parliamentarian forces. Again the castle held out, the defenders suffered only 2 casualties, whereas the attackers suffered over 100 deaths, until the castle was betrayed and taken by the parliamentarians. The siege castle was remodeled during this period to accommodate artillery. It's an interesting earthwork.