This historic tower at Corfe Castle is now open to visitors after 378 years
A medieval tower has opened to the public at Corfe Castle for the first time in nearly 400 years.
The King’s Tower was first built in the 11th Century to be Henry I's luxurious personal quarters – but was partly destroyed in the Civil War in 1646.
The 23-metre tower in question – made from white Purbeck limestone – acted as King Henry I’s personal penthouse and was built to the highest standards of luxury at the time. It even included an “appearance door” where he could be seen by his subjects far below – similar to how the balcony at Buckingham Palace is used today.
Now, thanks to the recent conservation project at the castle, visitors can access the former royal living quarters after 378 years.
The new National Trust viewing platform invites visitors to soak up views the Purbeck countryside from the royal viewpoint and offers the chance to see the historic ‘appearance door’ up close.
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.”
The move is part of a wider £2million conservation project to protect Corfe Castle from the impact of climate change.
This three-year project will see specialist masons working from ropes and on scaffolding to conserve the stonework, using similar techniques and materials to those of their predecessors nearly 1,000 years ago.
Originally built by William the Conqueror in the 11th century, Corfe Castle was once one of the most formidable castles in the country and an architectural masterpiece of its time.
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