Highcliffe Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Highcliffe Castle |
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Georgian Gothic Revival |
| Town or city | Highcliffe, Dorset |
| Country | England |
| Construction started | 1830 |
| Renovated | 1977 onwards |
| Client | Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay |
| Owner | Christchurch Council |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | William Donthorne |
| Renovating team | |
| Architect | Niall Phillips Architects, Bristol |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Highcliffe Castle | |
| Designated: | 14 October 1953 |
| Reference #: | 1110077 |
Highcliffe Castle is an amazing old building located on the cliffs at Highcliffe, Dorset, England. It was built between 1831 and 1835 by Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay. The castle has a unique Gothic Revival style, which looks a bit like a medieval castle but was built much later. It stands near where an older house, High Cliff House, used to be. That house had beautiful gardens designed by Capability Brown, a famous landscape architect.
The castle's design, created by William Donthorne, used special carved stone pieces. These pieces came from old ruined buildings in France, like the Benedictine Abbey of St Peter at Jumieges and the Grand' Maison des Andelys in Normandy. Highcliffe Castle is now a very important historic building, known as a Grade I listed building. Today, it is owned by the Christchurch, Dorset Council.
Contents
- Castle History: Who Lived Here?
- Highcliffe Castle Today
Castle History: Who Lived Here?
The land where Highcliffe Castle stands has a long history. The original High Cliff House was sold, but some parts like the entrance lodges (now a restaurant) and garden walls still remain. Later, Charles Stuart, a grandson of the original owner, decided to buy the land back. He wanted to build a brand new home there, which became Highcliffe Castle.
Lord Stuart de Rothesay: The Builder (1830–1845)
Charles Stuart was born in 1779. He was a diplomat, which means he worked for the British government in other countries. He served in places like Vienna, St Petersburg, and France. He was very important during the time of Napoleon and helped bring the French King Louis XVIII back to Paris.
While in Paris, Charles married Lady Elizabeth Yorke. They had two daughters, Charlotte and Louisa. Charles achieved a lot in his diplomatic career, including helping Brazil become independent from Portugal. In 1828, he was given the title Baron Stuart de Rothesay.
After retiring, Lord Stuart bought the land that his family used to own. By 1830, he began building Highcliffe Castle. William Donthorne, a famous architect, designed it. The castle was built in an L-shape, facing the sea. This allowed for amazing views of The Needles and the Isle of Wight from its large bay window.
A special feature of the castle is the old stone carvings used in its construction. These came from ruined medieval buildings in France, like the Benedictine Abbey of St Peter at Jumieges and the Grand' Maison of Radeval. These buildings were damaged after the French Revolution. The castle also includes a 16th-century bay window and a beautiful stained glass window.
After the castle was finished, Charles became Ambassador to Russia in 1841. However, he soon became ill and returned to England. He passed away at Highcliffe in 1845 and was buried nearby.
Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford: The Artist (1845–1891)
After Charles's death, his wife Lady Elizabeth inherited the castle. When she passed away in 1867, the castle went to their younger daughter, Louisa. Louisa was born in Paris in 1818. She lived at Highcliffe Castle from 1834 and also had a home in London. She wrote down many memories of her time at Highcliffe.
In 1842, Louisa married Henry, Marquis of Waterford. She became known as the Marchioness of Waterford. She was a very talented painter, and her artwork is still admired today. After her husband died in 1859, she moved to an estate in Ford, Northumberland. There, she built a school hall and painted Bible scenes on its walls. These paintings can still be seen today.
Louisa inherited Highcliffe Castle in 1867. She spent her summers there and her winters at Ford Castle. She often had many guests, including Augustus Hare, who was also a painter. He described a typical day at Highcliffe Castle:
- Breakfast was a happy time, with Lady Waterford sharing stories.
- She would read newspapers aloud in the porch-room.
- Guests would gather in the library while someone read aloud and Lady Waterford painted.
- After lunch, they would often walk on the sands or to the Haven House.
She even hosted the Prince and Princess of Wales (who later became King Edward and Queen Alexandra) at Highcliffe Castle. In 1880, she wrote about one of their visits: "The Prince and Princess of Wales, with their two sons and the three little Princesses, landing on the beach, coming up to tea, and drawing nets on the shore till evening." The young princes even swam in the sea!
Louisa, Lady Waterford, passed away in 1891. Since she had no children, she left Highcliffe Castle to a distant cousin, Edward Stuart Wortley.
Edward Stuart Wortley: The Soldier (1891–1950)
Edward James Stuart Wortley was born in 1857. He joined the Army in 1877 and served in several conflicts in Africa. In 1901, he worked as a military expert in Paris for three years before returning to England.
In 1907, the German Emperor, Kaiser Wilhelm II, stayed at Highcliffe Castle for three weeks to rest. This visit was widely known. The Kaiser gave two stained glass windows to Stuart Wortley, which were put into one of the castle rooms. Edward was promoted to Major General in 1913. He served in the First World War and later helped with a rebellion in Ireland. He retired from the Army in 1919 and died in 1934.
His wife, Violet Stuart Wortley, lived at Highcliffe Castle for a long time. She was born in 1866 and married Edward in 1891, the same year he inherited the castle. They had three children. Violet wrote many books, including a history of the Stuart family called “Highcliffe and the Stuarts.” She sold Highcliffe Castle in 1949 and passed away in 1953.
Harry Gordon Selfridge: The Shop Owner (1916–1922)
While the Stuart Wortleys owned Highcliffe Castle, it was sometimes rented out. One famous renter was Harry Gordon Selfridge, an American businessman. He lived there from 1916 to 1922 with his wife Rosalie, his mother Lois, and his son Gordon.
Harry Selfridge started working in retail in Chicago at age 21. He became very successful and made a lot of money. In 1906, he moved to London and opened his own department store, Selfridges, in 1909. It was a huge success because he brought new American marketing ideas to England.
When Selfridge leased Highcliffe Castle in 1916, he made many improvements. He added modern bathrooms, steam heating, and a new kitchen. During the First World War, his wife Rose helped the Red Cross. She opened a special camp for American soldiers in the castle grounds to help them recover. Sadly, Rose died in 1918 during a big illness called the Spanish flu. Harry's mother also passed away a few years later. After these sad events, Harry gave up the lease to Highcliffe in 1922. He is buried in St Mark's Churchyard at Highcliffe, next to his wife and mother.
Highcliffe Castle: Decline and Restoration (1950s onwards)
In the early 1950s, a local businessman bought Highcliffe Castle. He wanted to turn it into a home for children who needed to recover from illnesses. However, problems led to its closure.
The castle was then sold to a developer. He built new homes on parts of the estate. He then sold the castle and its remaining gardens to the Roman Catholic Claretian Missionary. They planned to use it as a training center for student priests. They built a dormitory next to the East Wing, which is now where the Castle's tearooms are. But the costs of keeping up the castle became too high, so the Claretians moved out in 1966.
Fires and Damage
In 1967, three local businessmen bought the castle. But before they bought it, a fire badly damaged the Great Hall. Another fire the next year caused even more destruction, and the main staircase had to be removed. Because no one could agree on what to do with the castle, it was left open to the weather and vandals. It slowly became a ruin. Many people and groups, like English Heritage, were very worried about its future.
Bringing the Castle Back to Life (1977–1998)
After many legal discussions, the Christchurch Council bought the castle in 1977. They opened the grounds and beach access to the public. However, the council couldn't afford to fix the castle. In 1986, they tried to find someone to lease and restore it, but no plans worked out.
In 1989, the Council and English Heritage asked architects to figure out what could be done. In 1990, the castle was covered in scaffolding and sheeting to protect it. In 1994, work finally began to repair and save the building. This first part of the project fixed the castle's south wing, including the Wintergarden, Drawing Room, and Library.
After this, the Heritage Lottery Fund gave the council £2.6 million. This money allowed all the major repairs to be finished by 1998. This included rebuilding the East Tower, which had been taken down in 1974 because it was unsafe. Craftsmen who worked on the castle won an award for their amazing skill and care.
Highcliffe Castle Today
Highcliffe Castle is now a Grade I listed building owned by Christchurch Council. It's considered a very important example of its architectural style. The castle is open to the public all year round and hosts many events. It can also be used for weddings and other private gatherings.
In 2008, a construction company called Greendale Construction Limited did more major repairs and improvements. This allowed about 55,000 more visitors to see parts of the castle that were previously closed. These areas included the state dining room, butler's pantry, and the East Tower. The project also improved the Great Hall, food area, and bar, and added new public toilets.
Following this success, Greendale Construction Limited carried out another big renovation from 2018. This work opened up parts of the castle that had been closed for over 50 years due to the fires and damage in the 1970s. The project added new stairs and lift shafts, and created a walkway on a middle floor.
