In the year that followed, London fell and Sir John accompanied the retreating King Charles to Oxford, where the Lord Chief Justice died after a short illness. Seizing the opportunity to attack a ‘defenceless widow’, Colonel Bingham, the Governor of Poole, embarked on another siege of the recalcitrant castle. Lady Bankes continued to fight on valiantly through two months of relentless bombardment, until Colonel Bingham disguised his men as royalist reinforcements and entered the castle by subterfuge. An indignant but determined Lady Bankes locked herself in her chambers and threw red hot embers on enemy soldiers as they climbed the ladder to her window.

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In the end, she surrendered. Moved by her courage, however, Colonel Bingham allowed her to leave with her garrison and to keep the soon-to-be-useless keys to the castle. Later, in 1646, Parliament voted that the castle, once one of England’s most impenetrable fortresses, should be demolished. Kegs of explosives, placed strategically around the walls and towers, reduced much of the castle to rubble.

Today, Corfe Castle is one of Britain’s most haunting ancient sites. Although partially destroyed, portions of the once-spectacular fortress remain visible. Originally fitted with a drawbridge, the Outer Gatehouse still stands proudly, although reduced by war to half of its original height. Next to it stands the Horseshoe Tower, dating from the last days of the 13th century. Virtually undamaged, it remains the most complete structure in the castle and hints of its former glory. Up a steep incline lie the remains of Plukenet Tower, named after Constable Alan de Plukenet, whose coat-of-arms still graces the outer wall. The nearby western defences and the remains of the Outer Ward’s four towers still keep watch over the tranquil village below.

At the northern extreme stands the most impressive and historic part of the castle, the Keep, dating from the turn of the 12th century. The southern walls of the Keep survived the Parliamentary destruction, and it takes only a slight sweep of the imagination to reconstruct its once-majestic white-washed appearance.

Following the final siege, with the castle in ruins, vandals began to pilfer its few remaining treasures. The fruits of their less-than-noble efforts can be seen throughout the modern village. The Greyhound Hotel dominates the Market Square, a stone’s throw from where King Edward met his death. Originally two separate cottages, the buildings were joined using masonry from the castle to create one of the most charming and rustic inns in southern England. The grand home of John Uvedale, once Corfe’s leading smuggler, also consists of stones purloined from the castle, while the bakery on nearby West Street obtained its magnificent 15th century fireplace at Lady Bankes’ expense.

Both the castle and its historic village have aged gracefully, undiminished by time and travail. The castle walls have been blasted with gunpowder, its stones pilfered, its treasures looted; yet its dignity remains unmarred.

For many villagers and visitors, Corfe Castle symbolizes the dichotomy of the human psyche, incorporating both the very best and the very worst manifestations of human nature. It has witnessed both treachery and valour, providing a home to both the sadistic and cowardly King John as well as the brave and noble Lady Bankes. Corfe Castle serves as a reminder that there are a few things that, like the human spirit, can be battered but will forever stand unbroken.

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