Lulworth castle, built between 1608 and 1610, has an almost fairy-tale appearance. It is an exact cube of eighty feet with round towers at each corner rising sixteen feet above the walls and was originally built as a hunting lodge. It's elegant appearance and comfort made it a favorite place to visit. It is said to have played host to seven monarchs.

The castle with lovely turrets and battlements gives a grand display of strength, but it was never intended to be a fortress. It did see action during the civil war, but its lack of true defenses offered little serious resistance. The castle was looted and the roof stripped of lead. Gradually the building was repaired to its original state.

Disaster hit again in 1929 when it was completely gutted by fire. For decades it remained empty and roofless looking as romantic in decay as it had as a living house. In the 1970's it was restored so that the exterior looks exactly as it did before the fire.

Lulworth is a beautiful castle. The castle and the lovely Lulworth cove located by the sea, a short distance away, is certainly worth a visit.