Hampton Court Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hampton Court Castle |
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Hampton Court Castle seen from North
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Gothic, Gothic Revival |
| Location | Hope under Dinmore, England |
| Coordinates | 52°10′3.57″N 2°42′14.91″W / 52.1676583°N 2.7041417°W |
| Construction started | 1427 |
Hampton Court Castle, also known simply as Hampton Court, is a grand old house in Herefordshire, England. It looks like a castle with its special design. The house is located near Hope under Dinmore, about 4 miles south of Leominster. It is a very important historical building, given the highest protection status.
You can visit the castle and its beautiful gardens. It is also a popular place for weddings and other special events.
History of Hampton Court Castle
Hampton Court Castle was first built in 1427. Sir Rowland Lenthall started building it. He received the land when he married Margaret Fitzalan. Margaret was a cousin of King Henry IV.
Sir Rowland's house was built around a central courtyard. This basic shape is still there today. However, the house has been changed a lot over the years. The famous artist J.M.W. Turner even painted the house at least twice.
Who Owned the Castle?
The noble Coningsby family owned Hampton Court from 1510 until 1781. After that, it was inherited by George Capel, Viscount Malden. He was the son of the 4th Earl of Essex. George changed his name to Capel-Coningsby. He also had the building redesigned by an architect named James Wyatt.
Later, in 1810, John Arkwright bought the estate. He was the grandson of the famous inventor Richard Arkwright. Some of the original wooden panels from the house were moved. They are now in another grand house nearby called Wickton Court.
In the 1830s and 1840s, the house was changed again. Builders worked to make it look more like a castle. They wanted to bring back its old, grand style.
The castle was sold by John Stanhope Arkwright in 1910. After that, it changed hands several times. From 1924 to 1972, it was the home of Viscount Hereford. In 1994, an American businessman named Robert Van Kampen bought it. He passed away in 1999.
His family opened the beautiful gardens to the public in the year 2000. The Van Kampen family sold Hampton Court Castle and its grounds in 2006. Today, the castle is used for weddings. Its gardens are open to the public on many days throughout the year. The castle itself is also open to visitors on certain days.
Exploring the Gardens
The gardens at Hampton Court are very special. They cover about 12 acres of land. You can find many interesting things there. There is an organically managed kitchen garden where food is grown. There is also a fun maze to explore.
Other features include a secret tunnel and a Dutch garden. You can also see island pavilions and a very old wisteria arch. This arch is over 150 years old! The gardens are open to the public during the summer months. They often host special events. These can include outdoor plays, small concerts, and fun family days.
The empty house and its grounds were used in a 1970s TV show. It was called Survivors. The show filmed there in the spring and summer of 1975.
