Corfe Castle

An absolute gem set amidst the Purbeck countryside

Corfe Castle - storm light

Corfe Castle
Distance from Lyndhurst - 33 miles (53 kilometres) via the Sandbanks Ferry

Located in the heart of the most glorious Dorset countryside and strategically positioned to command a gap in the Purbeck Hills, the principal north : south route, Corfe Castle and the attractive village huddled around its base surely present one of the most impressive of English landscapes.

And the view always comes as a surprise, at least when travelling from Wareham, for the castle does not draw gradually closer, but instead suddenly appears as if by magic around a bend in the A351, a stunning relic, a massive chunk of history rearing up like an angry animal atop its roadside hillock.

Now owned and managed by the National Trust, the castle was originally built for William the Conqueror for use as a Royal fortress. Construction commenced in the second half of the 11th century, although substantial changes and additions were subsequently made in the early 12th century by Henry 1st and again by later monarchs.

Corfe Castle - a more distant view

The castle was eventually purchased in 1635 by Sir John Bankes whose widow, Lady Bankes, a staunch Royalist, successfully defended what by then was the family home against Parliamentarian troops during the English Civil War. Until 1646, that is, when the castle fell at the end of a long siege. The family was allowed to leave, but the fortress was in large part destroyed, leaving behind the evocative ruin we see today.

Corfe Castle parish church
The nearby parish church, dedicated to St Edward, King and Martyr, dates back to the 13th century, although much of the structure was rebuilt in the 19th century.

Steam trains and a model village
Steam trains of the Swanage Railway, which operates services to Norden, a little to the north, add to the atmosphere of yesteryear; whilst a model village illustrates how the castle would have looked before destruction.

The Purbeck ridgeway near Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle - the museum
Located on the ground floor of what is reputed to be the smallest town hall in England, museum exhibits include dinosaur footprints and old photographs of the village and castle.

Shops, cafes, restaurants and pubs
Local shops, cafes and restaurants cater for both visitors and residents, whilst one of the two local pubs still carries the name of the Bankes family: the Bankes Arms Hotel.

Getting there
As with visits to much of the Isle of Purbeck, there is a choice. Either use the vehicle ferry operating from Sandbanks to Shell Bay, just a short distance across the entrance to Poole Harbour; or drive from Poole to Wareham and from there to Corfe Castle. (The ferry always adds to the enjoyment of a visit to the Isle of Purbeck, although during the main holiday season there may be lengthy queues to negotiate before boarding).