Corfe Castle
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Corfe Castle |
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Corfe Castle is a parish and village 5 miles south-east of Wareham and 20 miles from Dorchester most famous for it's ruined castle. the first historical record of Corfe is in connection with the murder of King Edward the Martyr in AD 978, made a royal residence by King John, by 1635 it had passed to the then Attorney General, Sir John Bankes (by purchase). During the Civil War the castle was held siege by the Parlimentary forces who were held at bay for many months by Lady Bankes, her husband being a royalist and away fighting, the castle was finally taken in 1643 after which the parlimentary forces spent many months reducing it rubble with gunpowder. |
| The first part of the name 'Corfe' derives from the Old English 'Corf' meaning a cutting or pass, describing the gap in the Purbeck hills where the castle stands. The church of St Edward the Martyr was rebuilt, with the exception of the tower in 1860, it has a peal of 6 bells and a fine stianed glass east window in memory of Lady Charlotte Bankes. the main trade of the village for many centuries was in stone and a grey marble known as 'Purbeck marble' which was used in parts of several cathedrals such as Winchester, Salisbury and Gloucester. |  |
The OPC for Corfe Castle is Rachel Kent |
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| Census | 1790 by Kim Parker |
| Parish Registers | Baptisms 1653-1699, 1700-1739, 1740-1779, 1780-1804, 1805-1819, 1820-1841 by Barry Chinchen 1840-1859, 1860-1879, 1880-1889 Marriages 1602-1841 by Barry Chichen 1763-1836, 1837-1900 (with witnesses) by Rachel Kent Burials 1668-1744, 1745-1794, 1795-1841 by Barry Chichen 1841-1900 |
| Bishop's Transcripts | Corfe Castle Baptisms 1840-1848 by Alison Preston |
| Other Records | Protestation
Returns 1641 Hearth Taxes 1662-1664 Return of the names of inhabitants capable of service in case of invasion, 20th October 1803 Extract from: Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72) Apprentiship Papers 1897-1837 Bastardy Bonds Peculiar Court Records Named Wills #1, #2 Wills at the Dorset History Centre Will Extracts |
| Photographs | Photographs of the village and castle including a 1925 view & Old Sketches by A Mudle and Cyndi Marks |
| Maps | The 1891 ordnance survey maps of the parish can be seen at the old-maps site, just enter 'Corfe Castle' under place search. |
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For
modern location maps visit:-
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