Highcliffe Castle
Encyclopedia
Highcliffe Castle, situated on the cliffs at Highcliffe
, Dorset, was built between 1831 and 1835 by Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay
in a Gothic Revival style on the site of High Cliff house, a Georgian
Mansion designed for the 3rd Earl of Bute
( a founder of Kew Gardens) with the gardens laid out by Capability Brown
. The design, by William Donthorne
, a founder member of RIBA
, incorporated large quantities of carved Medieval stonework salvaged from the Norman Benedictine Abbey of St Peter at Jumieges
and the Grande Maison des Andelys.
All that remains of the original High Cliff are the two entrance lodges, now used as a restaurant, also some of the garden walls and features in the lands. The son of Sir Charles Stuart, also Charles Stuart, decided to buy his grandfather's estate and build a new house there. In 1828 Sir Charles Stuart became Lord Stuart de Rothesay.
Early retirement from the diplomatic service meant Lord Stuart could now start on the project to build the new house and by 1830 he had purchased much of the eastern end of the estate.
The castle is built on an L shaped plan, oriented on a south-east axis, so the oriel window
is central on the south east elevation, providing a vista across the landscaped gardens to a panorama of the needles and Isle of Wight
. The house remained in the family until 1950 when much of the estate was sold and eventually developed up to the castle walls.
For a time from 1950 to 1953 the Castle was a children's home before being sold to Claretian Missionary
fathers as firstly a noviciate, then for use as a seminary
. The castle was put up for sale in 1966, after many years of uncertainty and neglect the castle was eventually restored.
Highcliffe
Highcliffe-on-Sea is a small town in the borough of Christchurch, Dorset in southern England. It forms part of the South East Dorset conurbation along the English Channel coast...
, Dorset, was built between 1831 and 1835 by Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay
Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay
Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart de Rothesay GCB, PC , known as Sir Charles Stuart between 1812 and 1828, was a British diplomat...
in a Gothic Revival style on the site of High Cliff house, a Georgian
Georgian architecture
Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1720 and 1840. It is eponymous for the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I of Great Britain, George II of Great Britain, George III of the United...
Mansion designed for the 3rd Earl of Bute
John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute
John Stuart, 3rd Earl of Bute KG, PC , styled Lord Mount Stuart before 1723, was a Scottish nobleman who served as Prime Minister of Great Britain under George III, and was arguably the last important favourite in British politics...
( a founder of Kew Gardens) with the gardens laid out by Capability Brown
Capability Brown
Lancelot Brown , more commonly known as Capability Brown, was an English landscape architect. He is remembered as "the last of the great English eighteenth-century artists to be accorded his due", and "England's greatest gardener". He designed over 170 parks, many of which still endure...
. The design, by William Donthorne
William Donthorne
William John Donthorne was a notable English architect of the early 19th century and one of the founders of what became the Royal Institute of British Architects .Donthorn was born in Norfolk and was a pupil of Sir Jeffry Wyattville...
, a founder member of RIBA
Riba
Riba means one of the senses of "usury" . Riba is forbidden in Islamic economic jurisprudence fiqh and considered as a major sin...
, incorporated large quantities of carved Medieval stonework salvaged from the Norman Benedictine Abbey of St Peter at Jumieges
Jumièges
Jumièges is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:A forestry and farming village situated in a meander of the river Seine, some west of Rouen, at the junction of the D65 and the D143 roads...
and the Grande Maison des Andelys.
History
The Earl's fourth son, General Sir Charles Stuart sold the estate apart from the nearby smaller Bure Homage House.All that remains of the original High Cliff are the two entrance lodges, now used as a restaurant, also some of the garden walls and features in the lands. The son of Sir Charles Stuart, also Charles Stuart, decided to buy his grandfather's estate and build a new house there. In 1828 Sir Charles Stuart became Lord Stuart de Rothesay.
Early retirement from the diplomatic service meant Lord Stuart could now start on the project to build the new house and by 1830 he had purchased much of the eastern end of the estate.
The castle is built on an L shaped plan, oriented on a south-east axis, so the oriel window
Oriel window
Oriel windows are a form of bay window commonly found in Gothic architecture, which project from the main wall of the building but do not reach to the ground. Corbels or brackets are often used to support this kind of window. They are seen in combination with the Tudor arch. This type of window was...
is central on the south east elevation, providing a vista across the landscaped gardens to a panorama of the needles and Isle of Wight
Isle of Wight
The Isle of Wight is a county and the largest island of England, located in the English Channel, on average about 2–4 miles off the south coast of the county of Hampshire, separated from the mainland by a strait called the Solent...
. The house remained in the family until 1950 when much of the estate was sold and eventually developed up to the castle walls.
For a time from 1950 to 1953 the Castle was a children's home before being sold to Claretian Missionary
Claretians
The Claretians, a community of Roman Catholic priests and brothers, were founded by Saint Anthony Claret in 1849. They strive to follow their founder's “on fire” example and help wherever they are needed. Their ministries are highly diverse and vary depending on the needs of the area. They focus...
fathers as firstly a noviciate, then for use as a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. The castle was put up for sale in 1966, after many years of uncertainty and neglect the castle was eventually restored.