Peckforton Castle

Peckforton Castle
A sandstone castle-like building with a tower slightly to the left of centre. The walls are battlemented and in the foreground is a grassed area
Peckforton Castle from the courtyard
LocationPeckforton, Cheshire, England
Coordinates53°07′03″N 2°41′56″W / 53.1175°N 2.6990°W / 53.1175; -2.6990
OS grid referenceSJ 533 580
Elevation469.2 feet (143 m)
Built1844–50
Built forJohn Tollemache, 1st Baron Tollemache
ArchitectAnthony Salvin
Architectural style(s)Gothic Revival
Listed Building – Grade I
Designated10 June 1952
Reference no.56862
Peckforton Castle is located in Cheshire
Peckforton Castle
Location in Cheshire

Peckforton Castle is a Victorian country house built in the style of a medieval castle. It stands in woodland at the north end of Peckforton Hills one mile (2 km) northwest of the village of Peckforton, Cheshire, England. It is recorded in the National Heritage List for England as a designated Grade I listed building.[1] The house was built in the middle of the 19th century as a family home for John Tollemache, a wealthy Cheshire landowner, estate manager, and member of parliament. It was designed by Anthony Salvin in the Gothic style. During the Second World War it was used as a hostel for physically disabled children.

The Tollemache family used the castle for occasional gatherings, but otherwise it was unused until 1969. From 1969 to 1980 the castle was leased by the 4th Lord Tollemache to George W. Barrett, and it again became a private residence and closed to the public. The right wing and tower and the castle gardens were restored by Barrett, an American employed by the U.S. Government. His daughter Pascale's wedding was the first to be held in the chapel and a special decree had to be obtained by the Archbishop of Canterbury to legally hold Catholic weddings in the grounds of the castle.

During the 1970s and 1980s it was used as a location for shooting films and television programmes. The castle was bought in 1988 by Evelyn Graybill, who converted it into a hotel. In 2006 it was purchased by the Naylor family, who expanded its use to include hosting weddings, conferences and other functions.

  1. ^ Historic England, "Peckforton Castle (1135729)", National Heritage List for England, retrieved 12 August 2012