Dorset Castle - Secrets within the stones?

Corfe Castle Ruins

The remnants of Corfe Castle continue to stand strong a thousand years to the day that the first foundation was laid. Its tenure over the land has witnessed the shifting of time from the period of William the Conqueror (1066-1087) towards that of Richard I (1189-1199) and numerous other famous royals. Despite the partial destruction in 1646, Corfe’s colourful history had already been written and continues to be a favourite landmark for adults and children alike today.

Historians have reasoned that Corfe was primarily used as a fortification to protect the Isle of Purbeck’s resources, the main one being marble, where much was quarried. A later document from 1698 that references the Company of Marblers documents the sheer size of the operation, with over 150 signatories agreeing to a common stock of marble. Due to the sheer size of the fort, nothing could pass without going through the castle, so it became a vital cog in the marble trade throughout the entire longevity of its lifespan. Today, people can find this marble in Exeter, Salisbury and within the Canterbury Cathedral.

The idyllic setting of Corfe today can be shadowed by more nefarious actions enacted by its owners. One of the more infamous stories is that of King John (1199-1216), who inhabited Corfe Castle at first and then used it later as a prison. King John at the start of his reign, was seen to send numerous conspirators to the dungeons of Corfe. In one instance, he locked his niece, Eleanor and 25 French noblemen in the dungeons. Later, because of an ill-fated escape attempt, the majority were placed back in Corfe’s prison under order to be given no food and were left to starve to death.

However, the idea of heroism is far more prominently seen at Corfe Castle as the actions within the civil war of Lady Bankes, who took ownership in 1635 along with her husband Sir John Bankes, are continuously celebrated. The popular tale can be discovered by all in the form of Civil War re-enactments, depicting the Royalists being able to defend a large siege by Oliver Cromwell’s men. Despite defeat on the second attempt, the story of Lady Bankes’ courage is always one that stays with those who visit.

Lady Mary Bankes

As of today, Corfe Castle defines the Purbeck landscape; a medieval skyscraper governing over the Jurassic coastline. Tourists and locals alike continue to arrive in numbers to view the landmark up close or decide to take a stroll along the rolling hills, to get that perfect photograph or perhaps come purely for the award-winning tea rooms and a bite of the famous Corfe Castle fudge. In any case, the historical weight and impact is one for all to marvel at.

Further Reading

Atlas Editions, Corfe Castle – 1080 Normans, Kings and Queens of GB, 2004, https://www.breakoutcards.co.uk/corfe-castle—1080s-normans-atlas-kings-queens-of-gb-maxi-card, – accessed 17/05/21

Banks, G, The Story of Corfe Castle, (1953)

Sheldon, N, Lady Mary Bankes and the Seige of Corfe Castle, (History Collection, July 2018), https://historycollection.com/lady-mary-bankes-and-the-siege-of-corfe-castle/

Bylaws of the Company of Marblers of Corfe Castle renewed and confirmed, (GENUKIMarch 1698), https://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/DOR/CorfeCastle/articles – accessed 17/05/21.

National Trust Corfe Castle, (National Trust, March 2013), https://corfe-castle.co.uk/locations/the-castle/ (accessed 17/05/21)

Figure 1: Image of Corfe Castle, http://corfe-castle.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/corfecastle-feature04.jpg

Figure 2: Bone Pierce, H, Portrait of Lady Bankes. (Wikimedia Commons, c183)