Corfe Castle: National Trust Guidebook

by National Trust

The first stone of Corfe Castle was laid more than 1,000 years ago. Since then it’s seen its fair share of battles, mysteries, and plots. It’s been a treasury, military garrison, royal residence, and family home. Now it stands as one of Britain's most iconic and evocative survivors of the English Civil War, partially demolished in 1646 by the Parliamentarians. With fallen walls and secret places, there are tales of treachery and treason around every corner, and looking out from the castle’s vantage point, you can't fail to be captivated by the breathtaking views across Purbeck. After the Parliamentarians had done their worst, the castle was handed back to the Bankes family and remained in their ownership for three and a half centuries. In 1982, Ralph Bankes gave it to the National Trust along with the family's extensive holdings in Purbeck, their mansion at Kingston Lacy near Wimborne, and its adjoining land—one of the most generous gifts in the Trust's history. Though in ruins, Corfe Castle remains a treasure and truly a gift that keeps giving, the study of its long history yielding more and more stories. This guidebook tells a few of those tales and specially commissioned reconstruction drawings help bring them to life.

32 pages, Paperback

Published March 23, 2015

About the author

National Trust is a heritage and nature conservation charity in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

The Trust was founded in 1895 by Octavia Hill, Sir Robert Hunter and Hardwicke Rawnsley to "promote the permanent preservation for the benefit of the Nation of lands and tenements (including buildings) of beauty or historic interest"

Today, the National Trust is the largest private landowner in the United Kingdom

Reviews

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

As guidebooks go, this is a rather good one. It provides a good overview of the varied history of Corfe Castle in an easy and engaging manner and how this affected the castle itself from its gradual construction to its ultimate demise. It is well illustrated too and cross refers to these well, making some potentially complex points easier to understand and all the more engaging.