ALTON CASTLE

Staffordshire

Alton Castle stands over the River Churnet like Dracula's Castle straight from a Hammer movie. More reminiscent of the great Romantic Castles of the Rhine than any English Fortress.

The reason for this is that the bulk of what remains at the Castle is from Pugin's 1847 construction for the Earl of Shrewsbury, who owned Alton Towers across the Valley and also endowed that property with a collection of tremendous follies.  Alton Towers, you see, was a tourist attraction long before the Theme Park moved in.

Pugin's Castle stands on the site of the medieval Castle of Alton which was built in the 1170s for Bertram de Verdun.  Of this Castle one tall square tower still remains, with some other scraps of wall - but amongst the most impressive features is the moat hacked into the rock of the hillside.

The Castle is a private school, but is visible from the outside quite well, including nearly all the medieval features; the whole thing also looks amazing from the valley floor.

Back to Castles of Staffordshire Page

© Text copyright - Raving Loony Productions, Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
© Photos and Artwork - Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton
© Web Design and Layout - Andrew J. Müller
2002