

CORFE CASTLE AND STUDLAND. liii. 



dimensions would not admit of this interpretation. It was a pity 

 that it had been modernised by three rectangular windows and a 

 fireplace, which, tradition said, was done by a former rector of 

 Corfe named I'Anson. The King's Tower, or keep, although it 

 had been badly battered, was still a noble example of the 

 durability of Norman masonry and mortar. It had been much 

 Tudorised, evidently by Sir Christopher Hatton, after his 

 purchase of the castle from Queen Elizabeth. He called attention 

 to the remains of the Tudor windows, mantelpieces, and chim- 

 neys, and also the alterations in the height of the roofs and 

 floors, for originally there was but one storey in the keep above 

 the ground floor. Mr. Bartelot next drew attention to 'the traces 

 of delicate and beautiful Early English work in the Queen's 

 Tower, especially the two pointed doorways. Some had thought 

 that the room on the right was a chapel ; but this idea was dis- 

 countenanced by the stone bench seats on each side within the 

 splays of the windows. But the adjoining apartment on the left 

 he thought might well have been the Queen's private oratory. 

 Mr. Bartelot finally gave an account of the siege of Corfe Castle 

 and its gallant defence by " Brave Dame Mary." 



The party then dispersed to examine features of the ruins more 

 closely. Some also rambled out to inspect some of the curious 

 old buildings in the most interesting village of Corfe, among 

 them the Tudor cottage with the portcullis badge of the 

 Beauforts, the quaint Georgian Town Hall, the headquarters of 

 the Ancient Company of Purbeck Marblers and Stone Cutters, 

 the old Council Chamber overlooking the square, now used as 

 the Parish Room, the Manor House of the Dacombes, the 

 Greyhound Hotel with its projecting porch, and the ancient 

 house of the Uvedales, the broad, many mullioned windows of 

 which cannot fail to catch the eye of the antiquary. 



' 



REMPSTONE STONE CIRCLE. 



The party then set out for Rempstone to inspect an interesting 

 find made a few years ago, but still not generally known the 



