Watch Corfe Castle on Hidden Treasures of the National Trust
- Published:
- 29 April 2025
We’re one of the places featured in series three of BBC Two’s Hidden Treasures of the National Trust. The show goes behind the scenes to hear from the experts who look after treasured objects, including a long-hidden archway at Corfe Castle, in episode 4. Watch the series from Friday 16 May.
Watch Hidden Treasures of the National Trust
Click here to watch the series and find out more about the stories from other National Trust places featured in the new episodes.
The role of women 'holding the fort' at Corfe Castle
The role of women during the English Civil War feature in episode 4 of Hidden Treasures of the National Trust. The story at Corfe Castle centres around the legacy of Lady Mary Bankes, and her defence of the castle against parliamentarian troops during this time.
She had been left with her 11 children, servants and five soldiers while her husband Lord John Bankes Attorney General to Charles I was fighting for the Royalist cause.
Lady Mary Bankes and a separate small group of defenders held the castle against the odds through two sieges. Though we believe she was not present at the castle during the siege of 1646, her reputation for bravery and leadership has endured. Her story continues to inspire and has helped shape how the castle is remembered today.
Finding the long-lost sallyport
The episode also follows a recent excavation by archaeologists looking to find the long-lost sallyport - a gateway in the external wall which was opened by traitors to let the Parliamentary forces enter.
A small archway in the east wall of the Inner Ward was uncovered during an archaeological dig in the summer of 2024, as part of ongoing conservation works. Buried beneath rubble and overgrowth, the feature may be more than it first appears. Although we can’t be certain, the position and form of the arch match what we might expect of a discreet access point into the castle’s most secure area.
The discovery was part of Caring for Corfe Castle, a major conservation project to ensure the castle is protected for future generations. It will also help us understand how the castle was used, defended, and ultimately destroyed.
You can now view the site of the excavation for yourself. Standing in the Inner Ward, with sweeping views across the Purbeck landscape, it’s easy to imagine the tense events of that night, and to wonder what other secrets might still lay hidden in the stones.
Artefacts found during excavation
Artefacts found buried during dig for sallyport at Corfe Castle
Painted plaster
Painted plaster from the wall of the archway shows various layers and uses the same techniques we use to plaster walls today.
Further information
Learn more about our £2million, three year conservation project here: Caring for Corfe Castle
Whilst visiting, in support of the conservation work, why not take part in the Kings’ View Experience, a rare opportunity to stand where royal living quarters once were. Booking essential. Further information about the Kings' View and visitor events can be found here: Corfe Castle events
Further information
Caring for Corfe Castle
Looking after Corfe Castle is a vast and complex task with access being one of the most significant challenges. A three year, £2m conservation project is well under way with a dedicated team working throughout the seasons to ensure the castle endures for future generations.
Experience the Kings' View
For the first time since 1646 you can ascend the Kings' Tower at Corfe Castle to experience panoramic views and rare historical features - once only reserved for royalty. Book on to one of our tours here.