Listed Building record MDO17502 - Lulworth Castle, East Lulworth

A four square building of three storeys with four storey towers at the corners all rising above a basement which is partly masked by a wide terrace forming a podium, itself containing basement rooms. It is brick faced with Purbeck and Portland stone rubble and ashlar. Construction was begun c.1590 by Henry Howard, 2nd Viscount Bindon, or his brother Thomas. It later passed to their cousin the Earl of Suffolk and then in 1641 was purchased by the Weld Family who during the 1700's remodelled the castle both inside and out. In 1929 fire gutted the inside of the castle and has not been restored. It is an entirely military looking structure without military intent. The solid rectangular block with corner towers is unusual when compared to the more open E and H shaped designs often adopted during the time of construction for houses.

A history of the castle published in 1926 before the fire, with numerous illustrations of the interior and exterior of the building, also a reproduction of a view of the layout of the house and surrouunding grounds in 1721. <1> A shorter retrospective in Country Life of September 7th 1929, prompted by the fire which had occurred a few weeks prior to publication. It notes some of the elements that were lost such as the ballroom ceiling. <2> A study of Tudor and Stuart hunting lodges from Country Life noting Lulworth Castle as an example. <3> Lulworth Castle of brick, faced with stone rubble and ashlar comprises a four-square building of three-storeys with four-storey towers rising above a basement which is partly masked by a terrace. Construction was begun circa 1590 by Henry Howard, 2nd Viscount Bindon - though new information suggests circa 1608-and the exterior at least was completed by 1609; the interior of the castle was still unfinished in 1641. There was extensive remodelling in the mid 18th century with further alterations in the 19th century (see plan). Lulworth Castle is a military-looking structure wholly without military intent, and is of special interest. The castle was completely gutted by fire in 1929 and has not been restored. <5> SY 853822. Lulworth Castle. Scheduled. <7> Lulworth Castle is at present being consolidated and restoration of the western side has commenced. Resurveyed at 1:2500 on M.S.D. from R.C.H.M. plan (2). <8> A hunting lodge, later converted to a residence, built circa 1608 for Henry Howard, Lord Bindon and remodelled twice during the 17th century; first for Thomas Lord Suffolk between 1609-11, and again in 1641 for Humphrey Weld. Further alteration work was undertaken at some point during the 18th century by Bastard Bros. of Blandford, and in the 1780s by John Tasker. The building was gutted by fire in 1929. A restoration programme was carried out in 1993. The main front is of ashlar, with rubble stone elsewhere. It is square in plan, of 3 storeys and basement, with 4-storeyed circular corner towers, and is pseudo-military in style. The main entrance is on the east front, with a raised terrace, steps and balustrade. There is a simpler entrance on the west front. The Grade was altered from II* to I in 1998. <9> Lulworth Castle. A former hunting lodge converted into a residence, built circa 1608 for Henry Howard, Lord Bindon. The building was gutted by fire in 1929. A restoration programme was carried out in 1993. The castle is in the care of English Heritage. The castle was recorded during the Wild Purbeck Mapping Project <10-11>.

Record last edited

Jan 25 2024 8:46AM