Rowton Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Rowton Castle |
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Rowton Castle
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| General information | |
| Location | Near Shrewsbury |
| Town or city | Shropshire |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 52°42′31″N 2°55′15″W / 52.7087°N 2.9207°W |
| Completed | 17th century |
Rowton Castle is a beautiful old country house near Shrewsbury, in Shropshire, England. It's a very important building, known as a Grade II* listed building, which means it's protected because of its special history and architecture. This castle-like house was once home to the Royal National College for the Blind, a special school for people who are blind. Later, the college moved to Hereford.
The castle was built in the 1600s, but there was an even older castle on this spot for many hundreds of years before that. Rowton Castle sits in 17 acres of lovely gardens. It's about 6 miles away from Shrewsbury. Today, it's a popular place for weddings, a hotel, and a restaurant.
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A Look Back: Rowton Castle's History
The current castle was built in the 17th century. Before that, another castle had stood on the same land for a very long time. The house belonged to the Lyster family for many years.
Who Owned Rowton Castle?
The Lyster family owned Rowton Castle until 1889. That's when Lady Charlotte Lyster passed away. She left the house to her nephew, Montagu Corry, 1st Baron Rowton. When he died in 1903, the castle went to his nephew, Colonel N. A. Lowry Curry.
Later, a new owner named Major Lees sold the castle in 1941. It was bought by the Royal National College for the Blind.
A New Home for the Royal National College for the Blind
The Royal National College for the Blind used to be in London. But during the Blitz, a time when London was bombed during World War II, their old building was damaged. They needed a new place, so they moved to Rowton Castle.
The castle itself became the living area for the staff and older students. It also had the dining rooms for all the students. Classrooms were built next to the main building. These classrooms have since been turned into private apartments.
Fire and Relocation
In 1953, a fire sadly damaged a lot of the buildings at Rowton Castle. The fire also destroyed 38 pianos and organs. These instruments were used to teach students how to tune them. Luckily, one of the students raised the alarm, and everyone got out safely.
After the fire, another school, Henshaw's Institution for the Blind, helped out. They took in the students and staff temporarily so their training could continue. As the college grew, it needed more space. It bought other buildings around Shrewsbury. Finally, in 1978, the college moved to Hereford. This new location allowed them to bring all their facilities together on one campus.
Rowton Castle Today: A Hotel and Wedding Venue
After the college moved out, Rowton Castle was empty for several years. Then, in 1986, work began to turn it into a hotel. The hotel officially opened its doors in April 1989. The current owners bought the castle in October 1997. Today, it's a popular place for people to stay, eat, and celebrate special events like weddings.
