The King’s Tower, also known as the Keep, was built for Henry I back in 1107 from local Purbeck limestone – giving him a suitably lofty peninsula perch from which to survey his subjects.
Now, 400 years after it was damaged beyond accessibility during the English Civil War, the Keep has opened for visitors, with a viewing platform erected by the National Trust, giving them the chance to see the rolling Dorset countryside through the eyes of an 11th-century monarch for the first time.
The tower made up part of the king’s living quarters, providing him with sweeping views of the surrounding land and, through a handy “appearance door”, allowing him to appear to large swathes of his followers in the way the modern Royal Family does on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
It originally scaled 23 metres, perched on a 55-metre-high hill, giving King Henry a lofty roost befitting his noble status.
But partial destruction at the hands of the Parliamentarians during the English Civil War in 1646 left the Keep’s upper levels unreachable, and that authoritative view out-of-reach for nearly 400 years. Until now, that is.
The viewing platform is the latest part of the National Trust’s £2 million conservation project, aimed at protecting Corfe Castle from the impacts of climate change.
It was launched in 2023 and has included specialist work to conserve the stronghold’s medieval stonework, using similar techniques to those employed nearly 1,000 years ago.
“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,” James Gould, Operations Manager at Corfe Castle, said.
“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.”
