Lulworth Castle

En un regard

Le château en bref

At the heart of a vast park on the Isle of Purbeck, Lulworth Castle stands like a perfect cube of pale stone flanked by four round towers. Despite its fortress-like appearance, it is not a work of war: it was designed in the early 17th century as a spectacular hunting lodge, a chivalric stage set intended to impress the guests of the Howards of Bindon. Bought in 1641 by Humphrey Weld, it became the main residence of this Catholic family, who still own it. The Welds modernised its interiors in the 18th century and received George III on several occasions. In the park, St Mary's Chapel, built in 1786, is the first free-standing Catholic church built in England since the Reformation. In 1929, a fire gutted the interior and left the castle a shell for nearly seventy years. A consolidation programme carried out by the estate with English Heritage restored its façades and reopened the building to the public in 1998. Visitors can now climb a tower to take in the park and the Jurassic Coast, explore the cellars and learn about the history of the fire. The estate, run by the Lulworth Estate, also hosts weddings and events.