Section of Corfe Castle open to public after centuries
The King's Tower was almost destroyed in the English Civil War
Visitors to Corfe Castle can now get a view from today (Monday 2nd December) that no one has been able to see for centuries.
The Keep, known as the Kings Tower, built for Henry I has opened to the public - it was nearly destroyed in the English Civil War.
A special viewing platform for visitors has been created inside the tower as part of a £2 million conservation project by National Trust.
The restoration work started in 2023, and has involved specialist masons working from ropes and scaffolding to conserve the stonework, using similar techniques and materials to those of the original builders nearly 1,000 years ago.
James Gould, 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 National Trust spokesman said: "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 built to stand alone without affecting the castle and is anticipated to be 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."