Today we visited the town of Corfe, home of the ruins of Corfe Castle. Corfe Castle was built in the 11th century by William the Conqueror and was extended in the 12th and 13th centuries. The property was sold in 1572 by Queen Elizabeth and 6o years later the Bankes family purchased it just 8 years before the Parliamentary forces attacked it during the English Civil War. Lady Mary Bankes oversaw the defence which kept the attacking forces out for several months before one of its own officers allowed the attackers to enter. Parliament then decreed that the castle should be demolished. Hence its current appearance. After the rebellion was finally defeated the property reverted to the estate of the Bankes family, who also owned Kingston Lacy and passed into the ownership of the National Trust in the 1980s.

Entry way split by blasts and one side now slipped down the hill

The Castle Keep

There was also a Steam Train Festival in Corfe today. There were several trains including one that has been built from original plans in the last 5 years.

Peppercorn A-1 Tornado

We later visited the ghost town of Tyneham. Tyneham was requisitioned by the British army in 1943 to enable troops to train in attacking villages. It was never resettled after the war and is now a tourist attraction in the middle of the army firing range! They do close the roads when firing is taking place!

Empty houses in Tyneham

St Mary's Tyneham (not in use as a church)