Corfe Castle, one of the most important castles in England, has opened its opulent King’s Tower to the public after nearly four centuries. The tower, built for Henry I as his personal penthouse, features an ‘appearance door’ and stunning views of south Dorset. The reopening is part of a three-year conservation project aimed at preserving the castle against the climate emergency.
The Guardian, December 2, 2024
History of the Tower
The King’s Tower was constructed from gleaming white limestone in 1107 for William’s son Henry I. It served as his personal penthouse, built to the highest standards of luxury and including an “appearance door” from which he could be seen by his subjects far below.
Conservation Project
The project has arisen as part of an extensive three-year conservation project to shore up the castle against the effects of the climate emergency. The building of the new viewing platform required permission from Historic England, given that the Grade 1-listed site is a scheduled national monument.
Viewing Platform and Access
Visitors can now climb a stairway installed inside the keep to see up close the remains of the king’s lavish quarters – and his jaw-dropping view. The King’s Tower tour, a ticketed extra costing between £5 and £15, would allow “a window on the world of kings”. As well as being able to take in Henry’s views across south Dorset, visitors will also see the king’s “appearance door”, at which he would stand to see and be seen by his guests in the outer bailey and his subjects outside the castle walls.
Significance
The project has underlined Corfe’s status as one of the most important castles in England. The King’s Tower was built for William’s son Henry I, who used it as his personal penthouse with an “appearance door” from which he could be seen by his subjects far below.
Accessibility and Conservation
For the first time in 378 years, visitors can explore Henry I’s ruined tower at Corfe Castle, with views of his royal quarters. The National Trust viewing platform offers a glimpse into the king’s royal quarters in Dorset.
Introduction
The King’s Tower was constructed from gleaming white limestone inside the imposing fortification of Corfe Castle. It served as Henry I’s personal penthouse, built to the highest standards of luxury and including an “appearance door” from which he could be seen by his subjects far below. The tower remained a royal fortress for centuries but was partially destroyed by parliamentarian forces in 1646.
The reopening of the tower is part of a three-year conservation project aimed at preserving Corfe Castle against the effects of the climate emergency. The project has accelerated deterioration from vegetation and weathering, and the National Trust’s operations manager, James Gould, stated that the building of the new viewing platform was necessary to conserve the castle for the future.
The temporary viewing platform is a self-supporting structure built inside the keep’s south annexe. It requires permission from Historic England due to the Grade 1-listed site being a scheduled national monument. The platform offers visitors a glimpse into Henry I’s royal quarters and provides stunning views of south Dorset.
