Beckington Castle
Encyclopedia
Beckington Castle is a historic house in in the village of Beckington
, Somerset
, England. It is a Grade II* listed building.
It was built in the early 17th century on the site of a medieval building. It has been home to various nobility and local businessmen, also serving as a hotel and school. It is now used as offices.
. In 1569 William's son Thomas lived there. At some time before 1616 it was sold to James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough
who was Lord Chief Justice
of the King's Bench
in Ireland
and then in England; he was an English Member of Parliament
and was Lord High Treasurer
from 1624 to 1628. He was also a founder member of the Society of Antiquaries
.
Several local merchants owned the building in the 18th century including Christopher Brewer, Samuel Love, and Nathaniel Mortimer. In the 1780s, Beckington Castle came into the hands of the Chislett family who owned it until 1870. It wasn't until 1839, that the name 'Castle House' was applied to the building. This later evolved into 'The Castle' and later 'Beckington Castle'. In 1870 George Esdaile bought the Castle for £450, the next owner was Colonel Augustus Hill who held it from 1896 until 1901.
Edward Milles Nelson was owner from 1902 to 1926. He was President of the Royal Microscopical Society
and author of 'The Cult of Circle Builders'. It was then the home of Captain Hamilton of the Coldstream Guards
, who later became the 3rd Baron Hamilton of Dalzell, and in 1942 it was the birth place of his second son the politician Archie Hamilton, Baron Hamilton of Epsom
.
It has also served as a hotel, and an antiques showroom. From 1945 to 1970, the Ravenscroft School
occupied the building. In February, 1966, a fire began in the Castle's boiler room and some of the interior was destroyed. Ravenscroft closed for a week, then continued to operate in its outbuildings while the extensive damage was made good.
The building is reputedly haunted and it may have been the first building in England which was described in an advertisement for sale as being more desirable because it was haunted. In 2007 it was investigated for paranormal activity.
. Between 1995 and 1996 Beckington Castle was restored by SEA as their headquarters, in co-operation with Mendip Council
and English Heritage
.
s with coping
s and finial
s along the front with two similar gables on each side.
Beckington
Beckington is a village and civil parish in the Mendip district of Somerset, England, across the River Frome from Lullington about three miles north of Frome...
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, England. It is a Grade II* listed building.
It was built in the early 17th century on the site of a medieval building. It has been home to various nobility and local businessmen, also serving as a hotel and school. It is now used as offices.
History
It was originally built in the early 17th century, on the site of an earlier medieval building by William Long, a clothier and patron of Beckington ChurchChurch of St George, Beckington
The Norman Church of St George in Beckington, Somerset, England dates from the 14th century. It has been designated as a Grade I listed building.The tower contains two bells dating from 1756 and made by Thomas Bilbie of the Bilbie family....
. In 1569 William's son Thomas lived there. At some time before 1616 it was sold to James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough
James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough
James Ley, 1st Earl of Marlborough was Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench in Ireland and then in England; he was an English Member of Parliament and was Lord High Treasurer from 1624 to 1628. On 31 December 1624, James I created him Baron Ley, of Ley in the County of Devon, and on 5 February...
who was Lord Chief Justice
Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales
The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales is the head of the judiciary and President of the Courts of England and Wales. Historically, he was the second-highest judge of the Courts of England and Wales, after the Lord Chancellor, but that changed as a result of the Constitutional Reform Act 2005,...
of the King's Bench
King's Bench
The Queen's Bench is the superior court in a number of jurisdictions within some of the Commonwealth realms...
in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and then in England; he was an English Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
and was Lord High Treasurer
Lord High Treasurer
The post of Lord High Treasurer or Lord Treasurer was an English government position and has been a British government position since the Act of Union of 1707. A holder of the post would be the third highest ranked Great Officer of State, below the Lord High Chancellor and above the Lord President...
from 1624 to 1628. He was also a founder member of the Society of Antiquaries
Society of Antiquaries of London
The Society of Antiquaries of London is a learned society "charged by its Royal Charter of 1751 with 'the encouragement, advancement and furtherance of the study and knowledge of the antiquities and history of this and other countries'." It is based at Burlington House, Piccadilly, London , and is...
.
Several local merchants owned the building in the 18th century including Christopher Brewer, Samuel Love, and Nathaniel Mortimer. In the 1780s, Beckington Castle came into the hands of the Chislett family who owned it until 1870. It wasn't until 1839, that the name 'Castle House' was applied to the building. This later evolved into 'The Castle' and later 'Beckington Castle'. In 1870 George Esdaile bought the Castle for £450, the next owner was Colonel Augustus Hill who held it from 1896 until 1901.
Edward Milles Nelson was owner from 1902 to 1926. He was President of the Royal Microscopical Society
Royal Microscopical Society
The Royal Microscopical Society is an international scientific society for the promotion of microscopy. RMS draws members from all over the world and is dedicated to advancing science, developing careers and supporting wider understanding of science and microscopy through its Science and Society...
and author of 'The Cult of Circle Builders'. It was then the home of Captain Hamilton of the Coldstream Guards
Coldstream Guards
Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....
, who later became the 3rd Baron Hamilton of Dalzell, and in 1942 it was the birth place of his second son the politician Archie Hamilton, Baron Hamilton of Epsom
Archie Hamilton, Baron Hamilton of Epsom
Archibald Gavin Hamilton, Baron Hamilton of Epsom, PC is a British Conservative Party politician.-Background and education:...
.
It has also served as a hotel, and an antiques showroom. From 1945 to 1970, the Ravenscroft School
Ravenscroft School (Somerset)
Ravenscroft School was an independent day and boarding school, initially for boys only, but from 1964 co-educational. From 1945 onwards its premises were in Somerset, England...
occupied the building. In February, 1966, a fire began in the Castle's boiler room and some of the interior was destroyed. Ravenscroft closed for a week, then continued to operate in its outbuildings while the extensive damage was made good.
The building is reputedly haunted and it may have been the first building in England which was described in an advertisement for sale as being more desirable because it was haunted. In 2007 it was investigated for paranormal activity.
Current use
In 1989, the Castle, which was in poor condition, and grounds were purchased by Systems Engineering & Assessment Ltd (SEA), which provides technical and procurement support to the Ministry of DefenceMinistry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
. Between 1995 and 1996 Beckington Castle was restored by SEA as their headquarters, in co-operation with Mendip Council
Mendip
Mendip is a local government district of Somerset in England. The Mendip district covers a largely rural area of ranging from the Mendip Hills through on to the Somerset Levels. It has a population of approximately 110,000...
and English Heritage
English Heritage
English Heritage . is an executive non-departmental public body of the British Government sponsored by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport...
.
Architecture
The three storey building has three tall gableGable
A gable is the generally triangular portion of a wall between the edges of a sloping roof. The shape of the gable and how it is detailed depends on the structural system being used and aesthetic concerns. Thus the type of roof enclosing the volume dictates the shape of the gable...
s with coping
Coping (architecture)
Coping , consists of the capping or covering of a wall.A splayed or wedge coping slopes in a single direction; a saddle coping slopes to either side of a central high point....
s and finial
Finial
The finial is an architectural device, typically carved in stone and employed decoratively to emphasize the apex of a gable or any of various distinctive ornaments at the top, end, or corner of a building or structure. Smaller finials can be used as a decorative ornament on the ends of curtain rods...
s along the front with two similar gables on each side.