With a luxurious ensuite bathroom, balcony (almost) and incredible views of picturesque countryside, it was an abode fit for royalty – literally.
But, more than 900 years on, the King’s Tower at Corfe Castle in Dorset is not in quite the same tip top shape.
Built for King Henry I in around 1107, it is opening to the public for the first time since it was partially destroyed nearly 400 years ago during the English Civil War.
The 75foot structure built from gleaming white Purbeck limestone stood atop a 180foot hill and acted as the luxurious personal quarters of the son of William the Conqueror.
Visitors can climb a special viewing platform built by the National Trust to get the same royal view of the Purbeck countryside that Henry once did.
The tower included a ‘garderobe’ – an early ensuite – and an ‘appearance door’, from which, much like Buckingham Palace’s balcony today, the monarch and his family could appear to his subjects.
What is known as the King’s Tower at Corfe Castle has opened to the public for the first time in nearly 400 years. A viewing platform has been constructed so visitors can look out of an upper
The stunning view of the Dorset countryside that visitors will get from the viewing platform
Henry’s appearances at his balcony allowed him to be seen by a much wider audience than could be admitted to Corfe Castle’s Great Hall.
His subjects could gather in the Outer Bailey and he could also be seen from outside the castle walls.
Special permission to build the new viewing platform was granted by Historic England, which manages the site for the nation.
A major £2million conservation project of Corfe Castle is underway.
Specialist masons working from ropes and on scaffolding will use similar techniques and materials to their forebears nearly 1,000 years ago as they conserve the stonework.
The viewing platform is anticipated to be in place for a year and has no impact on the castle’s structure.
Several kings who came after Henry enjoyed the use of Corfe Castle, but it was the infamous King John who spent more time there than at any other royal property.
Henry’s appearances at his balcony allowed him to be seen by a much wider audience than could be admitted to Corfe Castle’s Great Hall
A close-up of the window from which visitors will see the Dorset countryside
A view of Corfe Castle from the air. The power base was destroyed in the English Civil War
Corfe Castle was besieged twice during the English Civil War. A royalist stronghold, it was destroyed by Parliamentarian forces
And he used it as a place to lock up and even starve to death political prisoners.
The King’s Tower was severely damaged along with Corfe Castle itself in 1646, when it was besieged by Parliamentarian forces fighting the royalists of King Charles I.
William, who built Corfe Castle, ruled for more than 20 years after his victory over King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
When he died in 1087, the throne passed first to his second surviving son, William Rufus.
But Henry, his fourth son, then succeeded his brother in 1100 when he died in a hunting accident.
James Gould, operations manager at Corfe Castle said: ‘Henry I wanted Corfe Castle to be one of his most splendid royal palaces and fitted it out with the latest decoration and fashionable facilities.
‘His exclusive penthouse-style royal living quarters at the top of the Keep really was cutting-edge for its time.’
An engraving of Corfe Castle before it was ordered to be ruined by Parliament after being captured in the Civil War
Visitors will need to pay between £5 and £15 to use the platform
He added: ‘We are extremely grateful to Historic England for allowing the platform to be erected to aid fundraising and secure the castle’s future.
‘The platform is something we have never built here before and might never repeat again, so we hope as many people as possible will take the opportunity to come and visit and experience a window into the world of kings.’
Visitors will need to pay between £5 and £15 to use the platform.
The conservation project is being supported with a £150,000 grant from the Wolfson Foundation and the National Trust’s own funds, but a further £100,000 is needed so it can be completed.
Visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/corfe-castle for information and booking details.