Panorama showing the view north form Corfe Castle in Dorset over the Isle of Purbeck. Picture taken in September 2009.

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

The Gloriette of Corfe Castle occupies an area next to the Keep in the Inner Ward. While the keep dates from the 11th century, the buildings of the Gloriette date from about the 13th century. They were built by King John who enjoyed the seclusion offered by Corfe Castle and hunting in the surrounding area. He built a personal residence here along with a chapel and other domestic buildings, surrounding them with a wall.

Corfe Castle stands on top of a 62m hill overlooking Corfe Castle village on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset. 'Corfe' is Saxon for 'gap' and the hill on which the castle stands is in a gap in the Purbeck Hills, between West Hill and East Hill which rise to 103m and have ancient tumuli on top. While much of the castle ruins date from the 11th century, the wall of the Old Hall in the West Bailey show Saxon 'herringbone' brickwork, typical from an earlier period. Other images show the views north and south over the surrounding area.

The castle was destroyed in 1646 by Oliver Cromwell during the English Civil War. Having survived two sieges the occupying Royalist forces, led by Lady Mary Bankes, were betrayed by a garrison member. Today the ruins are owned by the National Trust. Corfe Castle is open to the public, entrance fees apply to non-members of the National Trust. In the village below is Corfe Model Village, another tourist attraction showing how the village and castle may have looked before it was destroyed in the 17th century

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.