PREVIEW

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 stood at 23 metres tall, positioned atop a 55-metre-high hill, and could be seen from miles around.
Long before its destruction by Parliamentarian troops in the Civil War, the tower had been used to provide Henry I with luxurious personal quarters and included the addition of a ‘garderobe’ – an early ensuite – and an ‘appearance door’ from which the monarch and his family could appear to his subjects, much as the balcony at Buckingham Palace is used today.
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. It will take three years, with specialist masons working from ropes and on scaffolding to conserve the stonework, using similar techniques and materials to those of their predecessors nearly 1,000 years ago.
Rare permission has been granted by Historic England to the National Trust to erect the viewing platform and provide a once-in-a-lifetime chance for visitors to experience royal history from this unique tower location.
Henry I’s appearances on his balcony enabled him to be seen by a wider audience than could be admitted to the Great Hall. His subjects could gather in the Outer Bailey, and he could also be seen from outside of the castle walls.
Several kings who followed Henry I enjoyed the use of Corfe Castle, but it was King John who spent more time there than at any other castle, lavishing money on improving it to his tastes. However, his own luxurious use of the castle contrasted sharply with his cruelty to others there, using it as a convenient place to lock up, and starve to death, political prisoners.
James Gould, Operations Manager at Corfe Castle said: “Henry I wanted Corfe Castle to be one of his most splendid royal palaces and fitted it out with the latest decoration and fashionable facilities. His exclusive penthouse-style royal living quarters at the top of the Keep really was cutting-edge for its time.
“There is so much history to explore at Corfe through the eyes of kings both famous and infamous, and visitors will have a unique chance to experience it from this special vantage point. I’m personally excited to witness the changing seasons high above the landscape just as the kings of old would have.”
The viewing platform is built to stand alone without any impact on the castle and is anticipated to be in place for a year – or until the completion of works. Ticket sales from the platform will help with fundraising for the extensive conservation project.
The conservation project is already being supported with a generous grant of £150,000 from the Wolfson Foundation as well as a commitment from the National Trust’s own funds, but there is still a need to raise £100,000 to ensure the project can be completed.
James continued: “We are extremely grateful to Historic England for allowing the platform to be erected to aid fundraising and secure the castle’s future. The platform is something we have never built here before and might never repeat again, so we hope as many people as possible will take the opportunity to come and visit and experience a window into the world of kings.”
The King’s View tours start on Monday 2 December.