Tuesday, 3 December 2024

King Henry 1's Des Res Open to Public for First Time in 400 Years

King Henry I's Norman des res (desirable residence) opens to visitors for the first time in 400 years: Tower that boasted 12th century 'ensuite bathroom' is set to give a monarch's view of the Dorset countryside


With a luxurious ensuite bathroom, balcony (almost) and incredible views of picturesque countryside, it was an abode fit for royalty - literally. 

But, more than 900 years on, the King's Tower at Corfe Castle in Dorset is not in quite the same tip top shape.

Built for King Henry I in around 1107, it is opening to the public for the first time since it was partially destroyed nearly 400 years ago during the English Civil War. 

The 75foot structure built from gleaming white Purbeck limestone stood atop a 180 foot hill and acted as the luxurious personal quarters of the son of William the Conqueror. 

Visitors can climb a special viewing platform built by the National Trust to get the same royal view of the Purbeck countryside that Henry once did.

The tower included a 'garderobe' - an early ensuite - and an 'appearance door', from which, much like Buckingham Palace's balcony today, the monarch and his family could appear to his subjects.   

What is known as the King's Tower at Corfe Castle has opened to the public for the first time in nearly 400 years. A viewing platform has been constructed so visitors can look out of an upper

What is known as the King's Tower at Corfe Castle has opened to the public for the first time in nearly 400 years. A viewing platform has been constructed so visitors can look out of an upper floor viewing platform

The stunning view of the Dorset countryside that visitors will get from the viewing platform

The stunning view of the Dorset countryside that visitors will get from the viewing platform

Henry's appearances at his balcony allowed him to be seen by a much wider audience than could be admitted to Corfe Castle's Great Hall. 

His subjects could gather in the Outer Bailey and he could also be seen from outside the castle walls. 

Special permission to build the new viewing platform was granted by Historic England, which manages the site for the nation.

A major £2 million conservation project of Corfe Castle is underway. 

Specialist masons working from ropes and on scaffolding will use similar techniques and materials to their forebears nearly 1,000 years ago as they conserve the stonework. 

The viewing platform is anticipated to be in place for a year and has no impact on the castle's structure.  

Several kings who came after Henry enjoyed the use of Corfe Castle, but it was the infamous King John who spent more time there than at any other royal property.

Henry's appearances at his balcony allowed him to be seen by a much wider audience than could be admitted to Corfe Castle's Great Hall

Henry's appearances at his balcony allowed him to be seen by a much wider audience than could be admitted to Corfe Castle's Great Hall

A close-up of the window from which visitors will see the Dorset countryside

A close-up of the window from which visitors will see the Dorset countryside

A view of Corfe Castle from the air. The power base was destroyed in the English Civil War

A view of Corfe Castle from the air. The power base was destroyed in the English Civil War

Corfe Castle was besieged twice during the English Civil War. A royalist stronghold, it was destroyed by Parliamentarian forces

Corfe Castle was besieged twice during the English Civil War. A royalist stronghold, it was destroyed by Parliamentarian forces 

And he used it as a place to lock up and even starve to death political prisoners.

The King's Tower was severely damaged along with Corfe Castle itself in 1646, when it was besieged by Parliamentarian forces fighting the royalists of King Charles I. 

William, who built Corfe Castle, ruled for more than 20 years after his victory over King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. 

When he died in 1087, the throne passed first to his second surviving son, William Rufus. 

But Henry, his fourth son, then succeeded his brother in 1100 when he died in a hunting accident. 

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.'

An engraving of Corfe Castle before it was ordered to be ruined by Parliament after being captured in the Civil War

An engraving of Corfe Castle before it was ordered to be ruined by Parliament after being captured in the Civil War

Visitors will need to pay between £5 and £15 to use the platform

Visitors will need to pay between £5 and £15 to use the platform

He added: 'We are extremely grateful to Historic England for allowing the platform to be erected to aid fundraising and secure the castle's future. 

'The platform is something we have never built here before and might never repeat again, so we hope as many people as possible will take the opportunity to come and visit and experience a window into the world of kings.' 

Visitors will need to pay between £5 and £15 to use the platform. 

The conservation project is being supported with a £150,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation and the National Trust's own funds, but a further £100,000 is needed so it can be completed. 

Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/corfe-castle for information and booking details.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14148687/King-Henry-Norman-des-res-opens-visitors-time-400-years-Tower-boasted-12th-century-ensuite-bathroom-set-monarchs-view-Dorset-countryside.html

The 22-year-old used computer animation technology to digitally rebuild the castle (ruins pictured) that was blown up by Oliver Cromwell's Parliamentarian army in the English Civil War
Corfe Castle sits on a hill on the Isle of Purbeck, in Dorset. It was originally built in wood sometime in the 10th century but was rebuilt in stone by William the Conqueror in the 11th Century

Computer animation technology was used to digitally rebuild the castle (ruins pictured at top) 

This view of the digital reconstruction would have been similar to the imposing view faced by the Parliamentarians when they seized the castle from Chief Justice Sir John Bankes and his family in February 1646

Digital reconstruction 

Selegean spent months researching the history of the important monument and studying drawings of it to determine exactly how it used to look. He then brought it to life using several software programmes to create a realistic moving 3D representation (model pictured)

3D representation

Selegean said the biggest challenge was making the castle look accurate and blending the CGI model with the real footage. The entire project took about four months and two field trips to create. The castle - a Grade I listed building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument - is open to the public and receives about 190,000 visitors a year


The historical reconstruction makes it look as if the impressive stronghold was never destroyed and even has a period guardsman standing watch outside the impressive castle gate (pictured)

Historical reconstruction

Corfe Castle (illustrated) was a royal fortress for almost 500 years until Queen Elizabeth I sold it to Sir Christopher Hatton, her Lord Chancellor, in 1572

Corfe Castle (painting)

The Bankes family regained their properties with the restoration of the monarchy in 1660, but decided not to rebuild the castle (animation model pictured). It remained in their ownership until it was bequeathed to the National Trust in 1982. The castle was one of the most important strongholds of its day, but less than 40 per cent remains now

Digital reconstruction

The Princess Elizabeth steam locomotive passes Corfe Castle in Dorset, having set off from London Victoria

The Princess Elizabeth steam locomotive passes Corfe Castle in Dorset, having set off from London Victoria

The historic and majestic locomotive left a trail of steam in its midst, much to the delight of keen trainspotters stationed along its route

The historic and majestic locomotive left a trail of steam in its midst

From tableware to warfare: The bomb - found at Corfe Castle in Dorset (pictured) - dates back to the Civil War, when Cromwell's Parliamentarian forces attacked the fortress that was a royalist stronghold

Corfe Castle in Dorset

Frosty: This photo of Corfe Castle, Dorset, taken by Antony Spencer won the Landscape Photographer of the Year award

This photo of Corfe Castle, Dorset won the Landscape Photographer of the Year award


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