EDO5318 - Corfe Castle, Outer Gatehouse and Bridge; excavations 1986-1994

In April 1986 the first season of archaeological work under the programme of consolidation and display of the castle ruins by the National Trust began prior to the work on the gatehouse structure. The excavations revealed the plan and details of the guard chamber itself which had been demolished in 1646 by parliamentarian troops. The walls had been undermined by sappers trenches and explosive charges. Only the base of the guard chamber wesr wall remained in its original position. The south wall retained several features including a cupboard and a fireplace. The hearth and part of the flagstone floor were uncovered. Thw west wall of the guard chamber had collapsed outwards against the curtain wall, partially covering a flight of limestone steps. The north and east walls of the guard chamber had been extensively robbed. A metalled surface of flints and packed limestone surrounded the guard chamber above which were found many artefacts of civil war date as well as redeposited medieval material. [1] In November 1992 the ticket office on the north side of the outer gatehouse was removed. Part of the east guard chamber was shown to lie immediately beneath the concrete base. [2] During 1993 the pathway from the SW gatehouse to the outer gatehouse was excavated down to the 1640's level and a new pitched limestone path was laid. In November the guard chambers and gateway of the outer gatehouse (c. 1280) were uncovered. [3] In November 1994 the outer bridge was excavated to the civil war level in preparation for resurfacing with a pitched limestone path. The 1646 sappers trenches were also revealed in plan around the outer gatehouse. [4]