King John's Gloriette at Corfe Castle

In this article, we examine the fragmentary remains of King John's Gloriette, a domestic palace at Corfe Castle (Dorset) built around 1201-5. Through analysis of the fabric and historical evidence we argue that the Gloriette was designed and built by a master mason with a detailed knowledge of contemporary work at Wells Cathedral and Glastonbury Abbey. The complex relationships between ecclesiastical and secular architecture are then considered, and suggestions are made about integrating "secular" architecture into broader narratives of medieval architectural history. We conclude by discussing the social context of castle patronage in the Early Gothic period and the iconography of the Gloriette vis-à-vis its possible architectural and literary prototypes.