Highcliffe Castle

Highcliffe Castle has been described as arguably the most important surviving house of the Romantic and Picturesque style of architecture, which flourished at the end of the 18^th century and the beginning of the 19^th century. Its significance is recognised nationally by its Grade 1 status on the Statutory List of Buildings of Special Architectural and Historical Interest.

 

There is an international importance, too. For a large amount of medieval French masonry, shipped across the Channel, was used in its construction. It is this Norman and Renaissance carved stone, along with the Castle’s Gothic revival features and ancient stained glass, that make it appear older than it is.

 

Built mainly between 1831 and 1836, the Castle is the realisation of one man’s fantasy. He was Lord Stuart de Rothesay, a distinguished diplomat who had known and loved the cliff-top site overlooking Christchurch Bay since he was a boy. The magnificent building, once lavishly furnished in the 18th century French style remained a family home until the 1950s. In the late 1960s two fires rendered the building derelict and in 1977, to prevent futher deterioration, Christchurch Borough Council purchased it.  More information can be found at our

 Zamek Highcliffe został opisany jako  najważniejszy żyjący domw  romantycznym i malowniczym stylu architektury, która rozkwitła na koniec 18 wieku i na początku 19 wieku.

Sredniowiecznego francuskie mury, renesansowy rzeźbiony Norman i kamień, a także gotyckie ożywienie zamku i starożytne witraże,  sprawiają, że wydaje się starszy niż jest.

Zbudowany  między 1831 i 1836 roku, zamek jest realizacja fantazji jednego człowieka, Stuart de Rothesay, wybitnego dyplomaty, który znał i kochał miejsce na szczycie klifu z widokiem na zatokę od Christchurch.

Wspaniały budynek, bogato wyposażone w 18 wieku w stylu francuskiego pozostał domem rodzinnym do 1950.