Corfe Castle

The origins of Corfe Castle date back to the late 9th century, when an initial fortification was built under Alfred the Great to protect against the Danes. A dark chapter in its early history was the assassination of Edward the Martyr in 978, which plunged England into a period of Viking raids. Around 1090, the Normans began constructing a stone castle at this strategically important site. Under Kings Henry I, John Lackland, and Henry III, the complex was successively expanded. In the 12th century, Corfe Castle successfully withstood a siege during the civil war between King Stephen and Matilda.