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Castle Drogo

Castle Drogo was built not to protect any territory, but as a home for Julius Drewe, who retired a very wealthy man after running the Home and Colonial Stores. He wanted a castle to reflect his wealth, and hired a reluctant Edwin Lutyens to design it for him. Lutyens wanted to build a house, but Drewe insisted on a castle. So in 1910 land was purchased and work began on what has become known as England's last castle.

This castle of course had no use as a military building, and was simply a show piece. But this was nothing new in castle design. Castles exist on a spectrum from functional fortification, to fairy tale kingdom. From the earliest castles symbolism has been as important as physical presence. Circular earth banks and ditches had been the design of both spiritual shrines, and early castles. Fascinatingly the "last castle in Britain" stands across a Dartmoor gorge from one of the very first castles in Britain. Drewe is supposed to have looked at the earth banks and ditches of the Iron Age Cranbrook Castle on Dartmoor, and decided that it should have a sister castle on the other side of the gorge. In this way he decided on the site for Castle Drogo. Ever since Cranbrook Castle was built thousands of years ago, castles have been contradictory structures. They have been places of war, and yet their architecture is reflected in the peaceful places we design in seeking spiritual security. Cathedrals have borrowed from their architecture, using towers and battlements in their decoration. Bishops have found themselves building both cathedrals and castles, as at Rochester. People have taken refuge in cathedrals, using their symbolic security, in just the same way that others have taken refuge in castles. Castle Drogo is no less a real castle in simply appearing as one.

Visiting Castle Drogo you are aware of these contradictions. You are aware first of its fairy tale nature. In wandering round the castle's wide halls and rooms, guides would tell me that this room was Queen Anne style, and that room was some other style: Lord Farquaad's castle in Shrek was the style that came to my mind. And yet for all this fairy tale dreaminess Castle Drogo's architecture in some ways mimics the most brutally functional modern military design, the square minimalism of concrete bunkers. The front of the building, as shown in this photo, makes that point. As I said Castle Drogo is a real castle in its whimsy and symbolism. This reality seems to have its ironic expression in the occasional sense of concrete bunker chic.

 

 

 

 

View Towards Cranbrook Iron Age Castle

I quietly congratulated Julius Drewe on holding out for his castle, and Lutyens for his lovely and ironic design. The whole place brings the long story of castle building full circle. You can stand in the library and look across the gorge at the circular banks of Cranbrook castle, and reflect on man's long search for physical and spiritual security.

There is a shop and restaurant, and walks with wonderful views over Dartmoor.

 

 

 

 

Opening Times: 15th March to 25th of October, open every day except Tuesday, 11am - 5pm, from 26th October to 2nd November open daily 11am - 4pm, from 29th November to 14th December weekends only 12 midday - 4pm. During some school holidays Castle Drogo opens every day but it is probably best to ring ahead if you wish to visit on a Tuesday.

 

Directions: Castle Drogo is just off the A382 on the eastern edge of Dartmoor. Click here for an interactive map centred on Castle Drogo.

Access: There is ramped access to hall and library, but other floors can only be reached by stairs. A photograph tour is provided. There are adapted toilet facilities at reception. Braille and large print guides are available. Grounds are partly accessible. Accessible route maps available at reception.

Contact:

phone: 01647 433306

web site: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/main/w-vh/w-visits/w-findaplace/w-castledrogo/