Where can you find a Grade 1 castle next to a Grade 1 1960s breeze block construction? The answer is on the Highcliffe Castle Estate.
Just a quick drive from Bournemouth, you’ll discover Highcliffe Castle, a place with a fascinating past. From the 1880s to the 1950s, it served as a family home, and one of its most notable residents was none other than Harry Gordon Selfridge, the visionary behind London’s iconic Selfridges department store. He called Highcliffe Castle home from 1916 to 1922, and his final resting place, alongside his wife and mother, is just across the road at St. Mark’s churchyard.
Once, Highcliffe Castle was a furnished in 18th-century French opulence. Sadly, two devastating fires in the 1960s ravaged the interior, leaving only the exterior to tell its tale. Thankfully, the castle’s majestic facade was lovingly restored in a major repair and conservation project during the 1990s.
The castle grounds sprawl across 14 acres, offering a delightful mix of landscapes, from the manicured Parterre by the Wintergarden to woodland connecting up to Steamer Point Nature Reserve. And for those who love the sea, Highcliffe beach is just a stone’s throw away. You can reach the sandy shore via a gentle, zig-zagging path or take the more direct route down a grand flight of steps beside the castle car park
Highcliffe Castle is arguably the most important surviving house of the Romantic and Picturesque style of architecture, which flourished at the end of the 18th century and the beginning of the 19th century. Its significance is recognised nationally by its Grade 1 status. Also on the site is the block of dormitories, now used as a cafe, that was built for the clergy who resided here in the mid 20th century.
Discover more about Highcliffe Castle at https://www.highcliffecastle.co.uk/
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