Rothley Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rothley Castle |
|
|---|---|
| Northumberland, England, UK | |
 |
|
 Rothley Castle
Location in Northumberland
|
|
| Coordinates | 55°11′35″N 1°55′55″W / 55.193°N 1.932°W |
Rothley Castle is a unique building in Northumberland, England. It looks like an old medieval castle, but it was actually built much later, in the 1700s! This kind of building is called a "gothic folly." It's located near a village called Rothley. It's also a special "Grade II* listed building," which means it's an important historical structure.
What is a Folly?
A folly is a building that looks like something else. It might look like a castle, a ruin, or even a temple. But it's not built for its original purpose. Instead, it's often built just for fun or to make a landscape look more interesting. Rothley Castle is a great example of a folly. It was designed to look like an old castle, even though it was built in the 18th century.
Who Built Rothley Castle?
The castle was designed in 1755 by an architect named Daniel Garrett. He built it for Sir Walter Blackett. Sir Walter owned a large estate called Wallington Hall. He wanted Rothley Castle to be a cool feature on his land. You can even see it from Wallington Hall on the horizon!
Interestingly, there was a real medieval tower nearby called Rothley Tower. This older tower was taken down in the early 1800s. So, the "new" Rothley Castle folly took its place as a landmark.
Other Interesting Places Nearby
There's another similar building on the Wallington estate. It's called Codger Fort. This fort is about a mile north of Rothley Castle. It looks like a triangular gun battery, which is a place where cannons would be set up. Codger Fort was designed by Thomas Wright of Durham.
Today, both Wallington Hall and Rothley Castle are owned by the National Trust. The National Trust is an organization that protects historic places and natural beauty in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. This means these cool buildings are looked after for everyone to enjoy.
Images for kids
-
Rothley Castle
