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Description: | The imposing ruins of Corfe Castle lie in a gap on the Purbeck Ridge between Wareham and Swanage. The Romans raised defence-works on this site which gave a commanding view over the hills of Dorset. The Castle, built from local stone, dates back to the 11th century and replaced an earlier ninth-century wooden structure.
In 975, on the orders of his step-mother, the 17 year old King Edward was murdered here. During the 13th century King John strengthened the defences and used it as a storehouse for his mounting treasures - and political prisoners! The next few centuries brought further improvements to the castle and yet more murders and intrigues. Its demise came in 1646 when Parliament, viewing it as a Royalist stronghold throughout the English Civil War, ordered its destruction. | License: | http://www.bl.uk/services/copy/permission.html | Rights holder: | British Library | Source: | Collect Britain | Creator: | Grimm, Samuel Hieronymus | Identifier: | http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personal... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
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