EWX1803 - Excavations in the Inner Ward of Corfe Castle 1991-1996

Between 1991 and 1996 excavations were carried out in the inner ward of Corfe Castle as part of a programme of works to consolidate the castle and enhance the presentation of the monument. During 1991 the inner ward gateway was partly uncovered of rubble from the collapse of the keep in order to try and open up access to the inner ward. This excavation revealed a gateway of at least three building phases. The earliest was 5.om wide and constructed from rough ashlar, possibly from the late 11th century. The gateway was narrowed to 3.2m in the later medieval period and faced with fine ashlar. Later still two chamfered jambs were introduced narrowing the gateway again to 2.3m. Two small trenches (A and B) were also excavated within the inner ward demonstrating a 0.8-1m depth of rubble above the 17th century floor surface. [1] During 1992, on the north side of the inner ward a ramp of soil against the curtain wall was removed to prevent access on to the wall. This revealed a small flight of 17th century stone steps leading from a turret to the top of the curtain wall. A ground floor doorway was revealed in the north end of the gloriette. Also in the inner ward, an archway was revealed in the interior face of the east curtain wall. [2] In April 1994, the topsoil covering the rubble blocking the east side of the inner ward gateway was removed in preparation for opening up the original entrance from the west bailey to the inner ward in order to discourage visitors from clambering over the ruined curtain wall. [3] From September to November 1995 structural engineers worked to move three blocks of tumble from the inner ward gateway. Tumble 1 was part of the keep wall blocking the northern part of the gateway. It was moved downslope to the south. Tumble 2 was though to be part of a chamber above the gateway. It lay within the gateway and blocked much of the entrance and was moved to the north side of the gateway. Tumble 3 was the north of a large block of Keep west wall lying against the east side of the gateway and was moved to the north. [4] In January 1996 an excavation took place to improve visitor access from the west bailey to the inner ward through the inner ward gateway. The ground surface was lowered to create a path and steps. The path was laid on top of the demolition rubble in this area. A fourth phase of building was revealed within the inner gateway. [5]