Image Description (Alt text): View of the ruined Plukenet Tower at Corfe Castle.
Audio track transcript:
"She talks of war, but castle building means business. Maintenance, repairs, extensions, improvements…
This Great Ditch behind you was dug in 1207, took eleven miners, seven months. By 1235 they’d replaced our timber walls with masonry – built towers as well. Ours have arrow loops that give archers a line of sight along the walls, and protect them from missiles.
Many of the nine towers here were built by the old king, John, scared of the threat from his nephew, Arthur. Not this one – I built it in 1269 – named it after myself, put my coat of arms on the outside. Alan de Plukenet. Constable. The honour is all yours. I oversaw everything, administering the garrison and armoury, provisioning the kitchen, ordering repairs.
Speaking of royalty… See the wall connecting the Gatehouse and Keep? That’s the King’s Stair. Your monarch arrives at the Gatehouse, washes and changes in a heated first floor chamber, then climbs the hill in a private staircase. Meanwhile, we move their luggage and get the Great Chamber ready.
Right, be on your way. At the bridge, look right, for two holes in the base of the Keep. They’re chutes for garderobes – toilets to you – a place I’d avoid. We poured lime deposits down them to stop the smells, and the flies. The ‘letter box’ hole below them came after my time, when rebel soldiers tried to bring the tower down. I won’t talk about it. Though I’m sure that next villain will…"