Panorama showing a view over Corfe Castle village and the Purbeck Hills of Dorset. The picture also shows the ruins of the Inner Ward of the castle and was taken in September of 2009.

Corfe Castle Inner Ward - Corfe Castle visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Corfe Castle Inner Ward' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Dorset.

Corfe Castle, overlooking Corfe Castle village, is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Dorset. Built in the 11th century on a hill in a gap in the Prubeck Hills, the castle commanded a very strong defensive position. The castle was 'slighted' during the English Civil War in 1646 when a garrison member betrayed the occupying Royalist forces, led by Lady Mary Bankes, to Oliver Cromwell's attacking Roundheads. He ordered Corfe Castle destroyed to prevent it being used by Royalist forces again.

Today, the ruins, a Grade I listed building, are managed by the national Trust. Corfe Castle is open to the public, with opening times varying with the season. The National Trust also own a lot of the surrounding village and manage a tea house and visitor shop in the square. The Corfe Castle Model Village, also in the square, shows how the village would have looked in the 17th century.

This image shows the ruins of the Gloriette, much of which was built by King John in the 13th Century east of the older Keep. It contained his own residential quarters, domestic buildings and a chapel. He also built a curtain wall around the West Bailey with an octagonal tower to the west point. From here the view stretches south over the Isle of Purbeck.

Corfe Castle
The Square,
Corfe Castle, Wareham,
Dorset BH20 5EZ
Phone: 01929 481294

Train: Steam train from Swanage.
Road: Corfe Castle lies on the A351, 5 miles west of Swanage and 4 miles south east of Wareham.