Corfe Castle with the GE and XP2

Corfe Castle is a ruined castle, it’s also the name of the village, and the name of the Parish – about the only way it’s similar to New York, New York! As part of my plan to use all my film cameras, with as many different films, while on my stay-cation I took my Fujica GE loaded with Ilford XP2 Plus to Corfe Castle. I should say that this plan is still on, but now reads – by the end of the year!! You can read my write up about the camera here: https://andysphotoblog.org/2021/09/22/fuji-ge/

Corfe Castle takes it’s name from the old English “ceorfan” which means cutting. This must be because the castle is built in the only natural break (cutting) in a ridge, and therefore offers great natural defence. Before the castle it is thought that there was a Saxon Hall on the site, and postholes have been found. It is believed that Queen Ælfthryth, wife of Edgar, (The first to be crowned King of “all of England”) used this as Royal residence, and it might have also been where where the boy-king Edward the Martyr was assassinated in 978. The Keep in the image above dates from the 12th century.

The Castle remained a Royal Fortress until it was sold by Elizabeth 1st, eventually falling into the hands of the Bankes family – they of the Kingston Lacey Estate from my earlier post: https://andysphotoblog.org/2021/10/20/kingston-lacy-and-cinestill/

During the English civil war, most of Dorset was Parliamentarian, while it’s then, current owner was Royalist – Parliament voted to demolish the castle, so with 500-600 soldiers besieged the castle to capture Lady Bankes, and destroy the castle. Hence it’s appearance today!

Both the camera and the film performed well enough. Whenever I use XP2 I always rate it at 200asa, the negs always look too thin to me at 400. I lost a few frames too, with the shutter being a little “ditzy” I suspect it might be time for those expensive batteries from Amazon!