Corfe Castle

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A trip to Corfe castle and perhaps Studland was planned for today. The images of the castle were not that spectacular I am afraid on the day but we returned another day to get some better ones


Another image, actually taken next day when we passed through on the way to Studland.


The Swanage Railway steam train passed through while we were watching a falconry display at the castle. 
Apparently, there are five steam engines on the line including the Battle of Britain Class Manston and these are regularly rotated so there is always something new to see. About ten special trains a year visit Corfe Castle and Swanage from the rest of England using mainline steam engines. You have to marvel at the feat of operating this 6-mile line. When British Railways closed it in 1972 everything was taken away. Volunteers have rebuilt every metre of track and a lot more besides and nearly 600 volunteers keep the railway going.
Hopes remain high that a regular service will start from the mainline at Wareham in the next few years offering direct connections to the whole UK network. A pilot service will start in 2017.


In the town of Corfe, and after some lunch, we spotted this sign on the wall of the `smallest town hall in England`
The Old Town Hall at Corfe Castle was passed to the Town Trust in 1888 and at that time was already more than 200 years old. The ground floor was built from secondary use of stone from the castle after it was destroyed during the Civil War.
The single story thatched building was destroyed by fire in about 1680 and the present two story structure dates from the early 18th Century when it was the seat of the Mayor and Barons of the Ancient Borough of Corfe Castle with its Charter dating back to Queen Elizabeth I.
Given that the floor area of the Council Chamber is only 350 square feet it claims to be the smallest Town Hall in England



We then followed the road toward Studland with some lovely views of the estuary complete with artist in the foreground.

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Location: Corfe Castle, Wareham BH20, UK

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