Stay near a castle

Where to stay near Corfe Castle

Yes, though not inside the castle ruins themselves. The National Trust, which owns Corfe Castle, lets two nearby holiday cottages, Vineyard Farm Cottage and Boar Mill Cottage, both a short walk from the entrance. Guests get free entry to the castle and all National Trust places during their stay.

Mortons Manor, Corfe Castle

Stay at Corfe Castle itself

  • Vineyard Farm Cottage. A thatched National Trust cottage just below the castle ruins, sleeping four across two bedrooms, with a terrace looking up at the ruins and a path leading to the castle entrance.
  • Boar Mill Cottage. A former bakery close to Corfe Castle, sleeping six, also run by the National Trust. It can be booked together with Vineyard Farm Cottage for a group of up to ten.

Historic places to stay near Corfe Castle

The castle and the places to stay around it.

Map tiles from OpenStreetMap.

About Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle stands in a gap in the Purbeck Hills in Dorset. Archaeological evidence points to an earlier Anglo-Saxon stronghold on the site, and in March 978 the teenage King Edward was murdered there while visiting his half-brother, the future King Aethelred. After the Norman conquest of 1066, William the Conqueror built stone fortifications on the site, and the Keep was completed in 1105 for his son, Henry I. Built from Purbeck limestone, the Keep stands 21 metres tall on a 55-metre hill.

King John, a frequent visitor, added the Gloriette range of royal apartments in the early 13th century and spent more than 1,400 pounds on improvements. The castle passed out of royal hands in 1572 and was bought by Sir John Bankes, Attorney General to Charles I, in 1635. During the civil wars, Bankes's wife, Mary, Lady Bankes, defended the castle in a first siege in 1643. It fell to Parliamentary forces in 1646 after betrayal from within, and Parliament ordered its demolition that March.

The Bankes family did not rebuild Corfe Castle, choosing instead to build a new house at Kingston Lacy. The ruin passed to the National Trust in 1982, bequeathed by Henry John Ralph Bankes, a descendant of Sir John and Mary Bankes. The Trust has since carried out major conservation work on the Keep and the Gloriette, including a project beginning in 2023 described as the largest conservation programme in the castle's history.

Visiting Corfe Castle

Corfe Castle is at The Square, Corfe Castle, near Wareham, Dorset, BH20 5EZ. The nearest mainline train station is Wareham, from where the heritage Swanage Railway also runs to the village when operating. The National Trust's Castle View car park, postcode BH20 5DR, has 90 spaces, including four disabled bays and four EV charging points. Well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome at the castle all year round.

Questions

Can you stay at Corfe Castle itself?

Yes, though not inside the ruined castle walls. The National Trust, which owns Corfe Castle, lets two holiday cottages close to the site, Vineyard Farm Cottage and Boar Mill Cottage, both a short walk from the entrance. Guests staying in either cottage get free entry to Corfe Castle and other National Trust places during their stay.

Who built Corfe Castle?

Corfe Castle was built by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of 1066, on the site of an earlier Anglo-Saxon stronghold. His son, Henry I, completed the tall stone Keep in 1105. Later monarchs, including King John, added further buildings, such as the Gloriette range of royal apartments, in the early 13th century.

Why was Corfe Castle destroyed?

Parliament ordered the castle's demolition in March 1646, after Parliamentary forces captured it during the civil wars. The castle had withstood an earlier siege in 1643, defended by Mary, Lady Bankes, but fell in 1646 when a lieutenant colonel let disguised troops inside. Sappers then used explosives to bring down the walls.

Are dogs allowed at Corfe Castle?

Yes, well-behaved dogs on leads are welcome at Corfe Castle all year round, according to the National Trust. The two nearby National Trust holiday cottages, Vineyard Farm Cottage and Boar Mill Cottage, also each welcome up to two dogs for overnight stays.

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