Corfe Castle, with its long and turbulent history, is reputed to be one of England’s most haunted sites. The castle has been the setting for numerous paranormal phenomena, some of which are well-documented and widely reported.
One of the most enduring legends is that of Edward the Martyr, an 18-year-old Anglo-Saxon prince who was murdered on the castle grounds in 978 AD. Edward was killed under orders from his stepmother, Queen Elfrida, who wished to ensure the succession of her own son, Ethelred the Unready. Reports of Edward’s ghost have persisted for centuries. Witnesses have described seeing a young man in medieval clothing near the site where Edward was believed to have been slain, with accounts often mentioning a sense of sadness and unease in that area.
In the 13th century, King John imprisoned 22 French prisoners in the dungeons of Corfe Castle, where they were left to die of starvation. The chilling sounds of their plight are said to echo through the dungeon to this day. Visitors and staff have reported hearing disembodied cries and the clinking of chains in the dark, cold spaces of the dungeon, suggesting that the spirits of these prisoners may still be restless.
Edward II was imprisoned at Corfe Castle in 1327 before his murder. Eyewitnesses and paranormal investigators have reported sightings of a spectral figure resembling Edward II in various parts of the castle. This ghost is often described as a shadowy figure moving through the castle’s towers and corridors, particularly around the areas where Edward is believed to have been held.
During the English Civil War, Corfe Castle was a Royalist stronghold defended by the Bankes family. In 1645, after repeated attempts to capture the castle, Cromwell’s forces managed to gain entry through a betrayal. The Roundheads then attacked from both within and without, leading to the castle’s capture and subsequent partial destruction to prevent it from being used as a Royalist stronghold again. The destruction of the castle has been linked to numerous paranormal phenomena. Many reports describe flickering lights seen moving along the ramparts at night, and a headless woman in white has been sighted walking the castle walls and descending the hill to the stream below. This apparition is thought to be connected to the betrayal that led to the castle’s fall.
In the National Trust tearooms and stockroom near the castle’s main gate, there have been reports of a ghostly Roundhead soldier. Staff and visitors have occasionally reported seeing a figure dressed in Civil War-era military attire, and some have claimed to hear footsteps or the sound of metal clinking as if from a soldier’s uniform.
Finally, the area around Corfe Castle is also noted for sightings of a ghostly legion of Roman soldiers. Known as the ‘Army of Purbeck,’ this spectral force is said to march along the ancient track that descends from the Purbeck Hills toward the castle. Witnesses have described seeing a procession of ghostly figures in Roman military attire, their spectral forms moving in the direction of Lulworth and Kimmeridge.
These accounts, while rooted in historical events and folklore, contribute to Corfe Castle’s reputation as a place of significant paranormal activity.
