SDO11348 - Excavations at Corfe Castle 1992; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society

Archaeological excavation conducted by the National Trust in advance of consolidation and mitigation work associated with tourism, continued at Corfe Castle during 1992. The excavations in May concentrated on resolving levels between the 4th tower excavations of 1991 and the great ditch in the outer bailey. A small 1m x 1m trench between the north tower, great ditch and curtain wall revealed that the latter had been almost halved in width between the 4th tower and the SW gate 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 postern gate was also revealed in the north curtain wall of the west bailey. 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. In Novermber the ticket office on the north side of the outer gatehouse was removed. Part of the east guard chamber lay immdeiately beneath the concrete base.