Culloden Tower facts for kids

The Culloden Tower is a cool old building in Richmond, North Yorkshire, England. It was built around 1746, not as a house, but as a special kind of garden decoration called a folly. It sits on what used to be the big estate of a man named John Yorke, who was a Member of Parliament (a bit like a representative in government).

This tower was built on the spot where an even older tower, called a pele tower, once stood. You might also hear the Culloden Tower called The Temple or The Cumberland Temple. These names celebrate a big victory! They refer to the army of Prince William, Duke of Cumberland, who won an important battle called the battle of Culloden in 1746. This battle was against Prince Charles Edward Stuart, who was trying to become king.

The tower was likely designed by an architect named Daniel Garrett. It has four floors and a roof terrace, all connected by a small spiral staircase inside.

A Tower's Journey Through Time

The main house on the estate, called Yorke House, was torn down in 1823. The tower and the surrounding park became part of a new area known as Temple View. Because the tower was quite isolated, it wasn't used much anymore. Sadly, it started to suffer from damage and theft.

Saving the Culloden Tower

Luckily, the Culloden Tower was saved in 1981 by a group called the Landmark Trust. They worked hard to completely restore the building, making it look great again. Today, you can even rent the tower for a holiday!

Images for kids

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  Culloden Tower, Richmond

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  The "glorious chimneypiece" in the living room

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  Plaster domed ceiling in the living room