SDO11352 - Corfe Castle, Outer Gatehouse Excavations 1986, Interim Report; Proceedings of the Dorset Natural History and Archaeological Society

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 and redeposited medieval material.