The National Trust has created a special viewing platform at Corfe Castle in Dorset as part of a three-year £2 million conservation project to allow visitors to see the keep
A tower built for King Henry I which has been unseen since its destruction in the English Civil War will now open to the public.
Originally erected as part of the fortress constructed for William the Conqueror in the 11th century, the regal keep was added circa 1107 for Henry I, his son. The prominent structure, crafted from white Purbeck limestone, soared to a height of 75ft atop a hill 180ft high, making it visible for miles. However, during the hostilities of 1646, the tower faced ruin at the hands of parliamentary forces.
Henry I’s grand tower served not only as lavish living quarters but also boasted innovations like a “garderobe” (an early version of an ensuite bathroom), and an “appearance door”, where the Royal family could present themselves to the people—akin to the present-day Royal appearances on Buckingham Palace’s balcony.
In a bid to preserve this slice of history, the National Trust has spearheaded a £2 million conservation initiative over three years, culminating in the creation of a special viewing platform. Opening on Monday, December 2, this vantage point gives visitors a rare chance to examine the “appearance door” up close and enjoy views of the Purbeck countryside just as royalty once did.
The ongoing restoration efforts at Corfe Castle, which kicked off in 2023, see skilled masons employing traditional methods akin to those used by their medieval counterparts nearly a millennium ago, painstakingly conserving the stonework while suspended from ropes and scaffolds, reports Somerset Live.
James Gould, the 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.”
A spokesperson for the National Trust explained: “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.”
The viewing platform has been constructed to stand independently without impacting the castle and is expected to remain in place for a year or until the completion of works.
Mr Gould added: “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.”
