PREVIEW

King Henry I's Corfe Castle Tower Opens To Visitors For First Time Since English Civil War. For the first time since 1646 when Corfe Castle was destroyed in the English Civil War, the public will be able to access a tower that was built for King Henry I. Originally built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, Corfe Castle was once one of the most formidable castles in the country and an architectural masterpiece. The Keep, (or King’s Tower), was built around 1107 for William’s son King Henry I, from gleaming white Purbeck limestone. It provided Henry I with luxurious personal quarters including a ‘garderobe’ – an early ensuite – and an ‘appearance door’ from which the monarch and his family could appear to his subjects. Now, visitors to Corfe Castle will be able to climb a special viewing platform built by the National Trust’s conservation team and see the Purbeck countryside from this royal viewpoint as well as a chance to get up close to the ‘appearance door’. The improvements are part of a major £2m conservation project began in 2023 to protect Corfe Castle from the impact of climate change. The viewing platform is built to stand alone without any impact on the castle and is anticipated to be in place for a year from 2 December.