Durlston Castle facts for kids
Durlston Castle is a cool building located inside Durlston Country Park. This park is a huge nature area, about 280 acres, right along the coast near Swanage. You can find it on the Isle of Purbeck in Dorset, England.
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What is Durlston Castle?
Durlston Castle isn't a real castle like you might imagine with knights and battles! It was built as a special restaurant for visitors. It's known as a "folly" because it looks like a castle but wasn't made for defense.
Who Built Durlston Castle?
The castle was built by a man named George Burt (1816-1894). He was a successful builder and businessman. George Burt and his uncle, John Mowlem (1788-1868), were from Swanage. They became very rich by quarrying and selling limestone from the area.
They wanted to give back to their hometown. John Mowlem built a public library. George Burt bought a large piece of land called the Durlston Estate in 1862. This land had quarries that supplied their building company.
George Burt decided to turn his estate into a fun place for tourists. He hired an architect named G.R. Crickmay to design the castle. It was built between 1886 and 1887 using only local stone.
Early Radio Experiments
Durlston Castle also played a part in history! In the 1890s, a team of engineers used the castle's roof. They were working with Guglielmo Marconi, a famous inventor. They did some of their first wireless experiments from here. They tried to send radio signals all the way to the Isle of Wight.
Who Owns the Castle Now?
Over the years, the castle had many different owners. Finally, in 1973, Dorset County Council bought it.
What Can You See at Durlston Castle?
The castle has some interesting features. On one of its side walls, you can see a sundial. There are also two stone tablets. These tablets show cool facts like clock times and ocean tides from all over the world.
The Great Globe
Just south of the castle, you'll find the Great Globe. George Burt also built this in 1887. It's a giant stone globe that shows the world!
Walking Around the Estate
As you walk around the castle and the Great Globe, you'll notice things. The paths are lined with old cast iron posts. These posts were brought all the way from London!
You'll also discover more stone plaques around the estate. These plaques have quotes carved into them. Some are from famous writer William Shakespeare. Others are from the Bible. You can also find maps of the English Channel and the United Kingdom. Plus, there are more facts about nature. These special features were added between 1887 and 1891.
Nearby Attractions
Durlston Country Park has other cool places to explore. You can walk to Durlston Bay, the Tilly Whim Caves, and the Anvil Point Lighthouse. The entire park is part of the amazing Jurassic Coast. This coastline is so special, it's a World Heritage Site!
Restoring Durlston Castle
Durlston Castle and the Great Globe were both fixed up in 2010 and 2011. The Council did a great job restoring them.
Now, the castle is a new Visitor Centre for Durlston Country Park. It's also a main entrance point for exploring the famous Jurassic Coast.
Images for kids
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Durlston Castle, main entrance 2012
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Durlston Castle view from the back in 2012
