Adapted from an article by S. White and C. Hannay in the DorsetLife in August 2011.

Gap fill
Sir Frederic Treves was famous __________ (1) the British Empire by the time he toured Dorset _________ (2) his pedal cycle during 1904/5 collecting information for his book Highways and Byways in Dorset. He describes Corfe Castle in his typical prose:

The village is ancient _________ (3) grey, a dim, mumbling place of tales and gossip. ________ (4) has changed but little in the last century __________ (5) so, and has remained unspoiled, __________ (6) the canker (disease, evil) has begun to gnaw (chew, bite) __________ (7) its vitals.
In many respects Corfe Castle could still claim __________ (8) have changed but little since Treves' time; most of the buildings that he __________ (9) have seen still exist and the core of Corfe Castle remains as it has __________ (10) centuries. Whilst _________ (11) has been significant development along the Swanage Road south of the village this seems to have taken __________ (12) predominately during the middle of the last century. Otherwise, the biggest change is the manifold (various) increase _________ (13) traffic which has blighted (stained) Corfe Castle and the lives of ________ (14) residents. This is a mixed blessing as much of this traffic brings tourists.. Treves' despised 'canker of red brick' mentioned throughout his book would be more conspicuous (obvious) in Corfe Castle; stone being easily sourced, it is essentially ________ (15) stone village. A house of red brick built in the centre of Corfe would stick ________ (16) like the 'sore thumb'. In apparent deference (respect) _________ (17) this concept Church Villas in East Street, built in ________ (18) early 1900s, are rendered in _________ (19) a way that only from the back of the properties can any exposed brickwork __________ (20) seen; the front and sides being pebbledash (pebble-finished) or stone work. This is also evident in West Street. Treves continues:

It is a wrinkled old place in the winter of its age, lying _________ (21) the foot of its Castle like a faithful hound. Its three little streets lead humbly ________ (22) the castle gate. The keep (the central tower of the castle) rises high above the village, and looks down _______ (23) it as a sacred image would regard ________ (24) adoring worshipper. The small town has ever been dependent upon the castle, and is dependent _______ (25) it still, for it brings to the place hungry tourists in charabancs (sightseeing wagons with benches) , with their holiday money in their pockets. Even the humblest cottage may boast a strong buttress (support for a wall) or an ancient outhouse of good masonry. Stone-mullioned (with stone dividers decorated windows) windows are common, while gables and flagged (paved with stones) courts __________ (26) never been dmod in Corfe. Opposite _________ (27) the village cross is the Town House, _________ (28) an especially fine bow window, capped by a roof of rugged (strong, with irregular surface) stone. The inn has a porch with a small room over it, _________ (29) a miniature house. This chamber is held up, with no little dignity, _______ (30) three stone pillars, which have their time afforded comforting support to the backs of many carters (who operate a cart) while they drank their cider. The glory of Corfe is the ancient castle, now a picturesque ruin. Its position is most imposing (impressive) ...

Pictures of Corfe Castle, Dorset, taken from the Internet.

JuFa

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