Lulworth Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lulworth Castle |
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Lulworth Castle after restoration
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| Type | House/castle |
| Location | Dorset, England |
| Area | Purbeck District |
| Built | 1588–1609 |
| Built for | Thomas Howard, 3rd Viscount Howard of Bindon |
| Architect | attributed to Inigo Jones |
| Architectural style(s) | Elizabethan-Jacobean, Adam style interior |
| Governing body | Family owned |
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Listed Building – Grade I
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| Official name: Lulworth Castle | |
| Designated | 30 November 1959 |
| Reference no. | 1323323 |
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| Official name: Lulworth Castle | |
| Designated: | 26 October 1954 |
| Reference #: | 1016069 |
Lulworth Castle is a cool old building in East Lulworth, Dorset, England. It's south of the village of Wool. This castle was built in the early 1600s. It was designed to look like a strong, old fortress, even though it was actually a hunting lodge. It's one of only five buildings like it from the Elizabethan or Jacobean times that are still standing.
Lulworth Castle is a very important historical site. It's officially listed as a scheduled monument and a Grade I listed building. This means it's protected because of its special history and design. The inside of the castle was badly damaged by a fire in 1929. But it has been fixed up and now it's a museum you can visit. The castle is part of Lulworth Park, which is also a protected historical garden.
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History of Lulworth Castle
Lulworth Castle started being built in 1588. It was finished in 1609. People think the famous architect Inigo Jones might have designed it. The castle was built by Thomas Howard, 3rd Viscount Howard of Bindon. He was a grandson of the 3rd Duke of Norfolk. Thomas Howard built it as a fancy place to stay when he went hunting.
Over the years, the castle was changed and updated many times. In 1641, Humphrey Weld bought the castle. During the English Civil War, soldiers called Roundheads took over the castle. They used it as a military base. After the war, the Weld family got the castle back.
The Weld family faced money problems for a while. But they managed to keep the castle. Later, Edward Weld (Senior) had enough money to decorate the inside. He also added new parts to the castle and designed the gardens.
The Weld Family and Royal Visits
Thomas Weld, Edward's youngest son, took over the castle in 1775. He was only 25 years old. Thomas decided to redecorate the inside of the castle in a popular style called Adam style. He also made the library bigger and added many books.
A very important guest visited Lulworth Castle during Thomas Weld's time. King George III himself came to stay there! Thomas and his wife Mary had fifteen children. Their family has owned Lulworth Castle for a very long time, even up to today.
After the French Revolution, some members of the French royal family had to leave France. They were invited to stay at Lulworth Castle for a while. Later, Charles X of France, another French king, also stayed there briefly in 1830. This was when he was traveling to Edinburgh.
St Mary's Chapel, Lulworth
Thomas Weld built a special church called St. Mary's Chapel in 1786. It was for his family, who were Roman Catholic. At that time, it was hard to build Catholic churches in England. Thomas needed permission from King George III. The King said yes, but only if the chapel didn't look like a church from the outside.
This chapel was the first Roman Catholic chapel built in England since the Protestant Reformation. It was designed by John Tasker. It looks a bit like an ancient Greek building. It cost £2,380 to build. This chapel is also a Grade I listed building.
Important events happened at the chapel. In 1790, John Carroll became the first Catholic bishop in the United States there. He was a friend of Thomas Weld. Later that year, another bishop, John Douglass, was also made a bishop in the chapel. Thomas Weld was buried in the chapel after he passed away in 1810.
Restoration of the Castle
On August 29, 1929, a big fire badly damaged Lulworth Castle. The roof was destroyed, and the inside was burned out. The Weld family had to build a new home nearby.
In the 1970s, work began to fix the castle. English Heritage helped with the restoration. The work was finished in 1998. They put on a new roof and fixed the remaining walls inside. However, they didn't rebuild all the inner walls or the upper floors that were destroyed. This means you can see the open space inside.
In 1986, an organ builder named William Drake fixed the old organ in St. Mary's Chapel. This project got attention from all over the world.
Today, the Weld family still owns Lulworth Castle. It's a popular place for tourists to visit. They even have medieval-themed events there! Part of the Lulworth Estate is used by the MoD for training. It's also a special area for wildlife.
Since 2017, the castle grounds have been used for the Bestival music festival. The main stage for the festival is right in front of the castle.
Images for kids
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Lulworth Castle in the park
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Lulworth Castle, Triangular Lodges
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Lulworth Castle stables (1932)
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Roof from interior
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Castle Interior
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Castle kitchen
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Castle vaulted cellar
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