Corfe Castle, Medieval castle ruin in Dorset, England
Corfe Castle is a medieval fortress ruin set on a 180-foot (55-meter) hill in the county of Dorset. The site consists of several wall sections, towers and a central keep, all built from pale limestone.
William the Conqueror built the fortress in the 11th century to control a strategic gap in the Purbeck Hills. During the English Civil War in the 17th century, parliamentary forces captured it and then deliberately destroyed the structure.
The fortress name comes from the Anglo-Saxon word for 'gap', as it watched over a narrow pass in the Purbeck ridge. Today visitors see the half-ruined towers, the medieval gatehouse and thick walls that stand dramatically against the sky.
The National Trust runs the site and offers guided tours along with a tea room in a historic cottage. The fortress sits on a hill and involves some climbing, but paths are clearly marked and mostly walkable.
Lady Mary Bankes defended the fortress twice during the English Civil War before it finally fell through betrayal. Parliamentary troops blew up the walls with gunpowder, leaving some towers standing at odd angles.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
