Lulworth Cove holiday Day 2

Swanage Railway steam engines leave Corfe Castle twice a year to link up with MV Balmoral, which then sails from Swanage to view the coast as far as Lulworth Cove, so 5 of us chose that option. The alternative was to walk the 6 miles (560ft gain) from Corfe Castle along the Purbeck Way, then hope the train would stop for us at Herston Halt to take us back to Corfe Castle. That all worked but unfortunately the fog out at sea very much spoilt the view for the sailors. On land, conditions were fairly good, with a little cloud on top of the hill. Thanks to Marian and Peter for additional photos.

In the 1640s, England was in the grip of civil war and Corfe Castle found itself on the front line of conflict between Parliament and King Charles I. The castle had recently been acquired by staunch Royalists, the Bankes family. When war broke out in 1642, the formidable Lady Mary Bankes made it her home while her husband Sir John was away serving the King. Within a year, almost all of Dorset came under the control of Parliament but Corfe stood firm. In 1643, Lady Mary and a garrison of just 80 soldiers saw off a six-week siege. When Sir John died in December 1644, Corfe Castle was the last remaining Royalist stronghold between London and Exeter. Pressure increased during 1645 and by October the castle was again under siege – this time by a larger and more determined enemy force. An officer of her garrison sealed the castle’s fate with an act of treachery when he allowed enemy troops disguised as reinforcements to enter. Lady Mary was forced to surrender after 48 days under siege, but was allowed to keep the seals and keys of the castle in recognition of her courage.

Parliamentarian sappers set to work with gunpowder to reduce the castle to the ruin we see today and the Bankes’ estate was seized. However, Lady Mary had the last laugh. She lived to see her estate returned and the restoration of the monarchy in 1660. This information thanks to www.nationaltrust.org.uk