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THE BLACK CASTLE

Somerset

The Black Castle, Somerset

The part of Somerset which was until recently in the county of 'Avon' is very rich hunting ground for the folly-lover.  One of the best is this peculiar creation of Sanderson Miller.  It stands bizarrely amongst cash and carry shops.  It was built on the instructions of William Reeve as a stables for his Arnos Court around 1762.  Reeve was a copper smelter by trade, and so the Castle was built from spelter slag; the by-product of copper smelting, giving the Castle its wonderful black colour.

Horace Walpole described it as "The Devil's Cathedral".  Today it operates as a pub.

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2018

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