A Dream Translated into Stone
The design of the castle was a combination of dream, fantasy and study. Essentially it is a hodge podge, a collection of elements gathered by Sir Henry and translated through the skilled hands of architect E. J. Lennox, who relished the task.
The structure was soon criticized as being pretentious and confused, a bad mixture of medieval styles. There were the readily recognizable Norman and Scottish towers, but others saw English, Irish, Italian and Rhenish influences as well. To some, the palatial mansion was French-baronial.
The Architect: E. J. Lennox
Lennox didn't begin serious work on the castle until September 1909, when he drew up the basement plan for what he called "Mansion Well's Hill." In 1909, only three days were devoted to drawings of the castle, which now showed a frontage of 260 feet and wings 100 feet deep. Although the foundation was put down early in 1910, work was delayed, likely because of Sir Henry's other commitments, especially the fall maneuvers in England.
Key Architectural Features
- The Great Hall — a grand room with 60-foot high laminated oak-beamed ceilings and a 40-foot high bay window with 783 lights of glass.
- The Towers — Norman and Scottish towers that give the castle its fairytale silhouette.
- 98 Rooms — spread over three stories, from the basement wine cellar to the third-floor museum.
- The Tunnel — an 800-foot underground passage connecting the castle to the stables.
- Modern Amenities — a central vacuum system, indirect lighting and refrigeration, remarkable for its time.
Explore the Design
Take a virtual tour of the floor plans, or read more about the construction of the castle and the architectural details.