Midford Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Midford Castle |
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Midford Castle
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Gothic |
| Town or city | Midford, Somerset 51°21′2″N 2°20′47″W / 51.35056°N 2.34639°W |
| Country | England |
| Completed | 1775 |
| Client | Henry Disney Roebuck |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | John Carter |
Midford Castle is a unique building in the village of Midford, near Bath, in Somerset, England. It's not a traditional castle built for defense. Instead, it's a "folly" castle, which means it was built mainly for fun and looks.
This special castle was finished in 1775. It was designed by an architect named John Carter for Henry Disney Roebuck.
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The Castle's Unique Shape
Midford Castle has a very unusual shape. It looks like the "clubs" symbol (♣) you see on playing cards! This design comes from three round towers joined together. It has a Gothic style, which means it looks like old medieval buildings.
People used to say that Henry Disney Roebuck chose the clubs shape because he won money for the castle by gambling. However, this story is probably not true. The part that makes it look like the "stem" of the clubs symbol was added later. It's more likely the design came from a magazine article published in 1774.
Who Lived at Midford Castle?
Over the years, many different people have owned Midford Castle. Each owner added their own touch to the building and its grounds.
The Conolly Family's Additions
In 1810, the Conolly family bought the castle. They were from Castletown House in County Kildare, Ireland. The Conollys added the porch, which completed the "clubs" shape. They also built nearby stables and a small chapel. This chapel was known as the priory. After the last Conolly sold the castle in 1901, the chapel slowly fell into disrepair.
The Quarry and William Smith
Around the same time, a part of the castle's land called Kingham Field was used as a stone quarry. This was similar to other quarries nearby. William Smith, a famous geologist known as the "Father of English Geology", had a big idea. He wanted to move the stone from the quarry using a railway. The stone would then be cut at Tucking Mill and sent by canal to Bath and London.
This plan did not work out as intended. The scheme failed, and the railway was never fully developed.
Modern Renovations
In 1961, Michael Briggs and his wife Isabel Colegate bought Midford Castle. Isabel Colegate was a well-known writer. They did a lot of work to fix up the castle. They even made the old chapel ruins a beautiful part of the garden.
More recently, in July 2007, the castle was sold to the actor Nicolas Cage. He owned it for about two years before selling it in 2009.
Protecting Midford Castle
Midford Castle is a very important historical building. It is officially recognized as a Grade I listed building on the National Heritage List for England. This means it is considered to be of exceptional national interest.
Other parts of the castle grounds are also protected:
- An archway with a lodge and screen wall is listed as Grade II.
- A pair of gatepiers and gates are also Grade II listed.
- The stables, old chapel, walls around the stable yard, coach house, and greenhouse are a group listed as Grade II*. This means they are particularly important.
- The priory, about 500 yards north-east of the castle, is also Grade II listed.
