Latest news with #castle
The Sun
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
World's tallest Victorian Gothic tower transformed into 4-bed home with stunning panoramic views hits the market in UK
THE world's tallest Victorian Gothic tower, with five floors and a roof terrace, has been transformed into a breathtaking four bed home. Ever wanted to live out your Disney princess fantasy? Well now you can, as the former castle has hit the UK market. 7 7 7 Hadlow Tower, a Grade I listed 175ft property sits six feet taller than Nelson's Column, and was once part of a Romantic Gothic style 18th century castle. It was built by wealthy merchant Walter Barton May in 1838 so he could spy on his estranged wife who left him for a local farmer. The tower was then used as a look out during World War Two, but was saved by Royal painter Bernard Hailstone. During a ferocious storm in 1987, the tower was severely damaged, and fell in to disrepair before it was restored in 2013 with the help of a £4.2 million grant provided by English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund. Situated in the quaint village of Hadlow, in Tonbridge, Kent, the unique abode can be accessed via a triple-arched Gothic Entrance on the village high street. The castle can be found at the end of a long, winding, private countryside road, next to six additional buildings which have also now be converted into private properties. 7 The owners of these properties, as well as the owner of the tower have access to the communal former castle grounds, including sweeping lawns and a magnificent lake. Hadlow Tower, which is listed on Rightmove for an eye-watering £2,780,000 includes many original Gothic features, including orante mouldings and arched windows. However, the interior has been transformed in to a modern family home, that even has a lift. There's a cinema room, four bathrooms, a private garden and a castellated parapet, with astounding 360 degree views. This European castle was the inspiration for Disney The master bedroom, known as the Rapunzel Room, has its own roof terrace. The 3.45acre grounds boast a croquet lawn and an ornamental boating lake. Although the tower is tucked away, at the end of the lane is the bustling Hadlow high street, featuring a variety of shops, pubs, a library and a hairdressers. In nearby Tonbridge, there are also a number of great schools, and you can catch a train that will arrive in London in just 30-40 minutes. 5 Tips to Get on The Property Ladder Saving for your first property is tough, but it is possible. Here are a few steps for first-time buyers. 1. Cut back on luxuries and start saving Consistent monthly saving is the best way to accumulate enough money to get on the ladder, for a deposit and purchase fees. To do this, you need to take a look at your monthly outgoings and think about what can be cut out - holidays, new clothes, weekly takeaway. Using a savings calculator can help you to establish how long you will need to save for a deposit. Based on your income, you can figure out a realistic amount to save each month. 2. Have a realistic property search Set a budget for the property price you would like to buy, and think realistically about the location and size of your property. While we all may want that house with a view or extra bedroom, can you afford it? 3. Research Help To Buy and Shared Ownership schemes The government has introduced a few ways to help first-time-buyers get on the property ladder and they're great for those on lower incomes or to buy a property in more expensive areas like London. 4. Consider buying with another person Investing with somebody else you know is a sure way to get onto the property ladder. You only need to save half the amount you would otherwise, so you can work towards getting your property sooner. You can invest with a friend, family or partner. Naturally, it is a big step and a huge commitment so be open and honest about what you expect from living together — if you haven't already. 5. Talk to a mortgage broker and get your documents in order A mortgage broker can tell you exactly how much you can borrow for a mortgage, what you will need to pay monthly and in upfront costs. The owner of the property said: "This has been a very exciting and unique home that I have been privileged and proud to own for the past few years. "I and my family have thoroughly enjoyed our time here, including the peaceful and tranquil environment, but my business is taking my abroad so I feel it is time to hand the baton over to new custodians who will appreciate the uniqueness of this amazing place in such an incredible setting." James Mackenzie, head of Strutt & Parker's National Country House Department described the tower as "historically fascinating". He said: "Hadlow Tower had £4.5million invested into it so it is both historically fascinating and brand new. "It has the best of everything with incredible craftsmanship and every modern benefit. "This tower is a masterpiece and we've already had dozens of enquiries about it including foreign buyers." 7 7 7
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Gilded Age': How The HBO Drama Created A Castle Fit For A New Duchess
Gladys deserves the mother of all castles after the ordeal she went through in New York City. But production didn't need to go to England to find the perfect home for the new Duchess of Buckingham. Two different estates in Newport, R.I. — along with one in Long Island — served as Sidmouth Castle in the episode titled 'A Different World.' To achieve the opening shot, however, director Deborah Kampmeier relied on an actual pond in England to project the image of Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) and Hector (Ben Lamb) riding a carriage through the estate grounds. More from Deadline 'The Gilded Age' Courts Another Series High Audience With Season 3 Wedding Episode Carrie Coon Talks Emmy Nomination, Future Of 'The Gilded Age' & Whether She'd Return For 'The White Lotus' Season 4 Emmys 2025: Where's My Show? Why Some Of Your Favorites Won't Be Nominated This Year 'We put the visual effect of the carriage in upside down in the water, and then the wide shot of it moving through the countryside. That's England,' said Kampmeier. 'And then as we approach the castle, that is an approach to an estate in Newport. We brought in background actors to converge upon the carriage, and then a big crane goes up and over. We actually built onto what was already there in our visual effects. That's one piece of the puzzle.' The entrance and several of the castle rooms featured in the episode are from the Newport estates, while the sitting room and long hallways are from a mansion in Long Island. 'It is a collage that we use to create this epic castle feeling of a castle, using what we had available to us,' the director said. 'We've used up pretty much every mansion in Newport.' While Gladys is certainly accustomed to living in a large house, her new one has to feel to feel different — and so much worse. 'It was important to feel like she's walking into a very cold, very epic space in which she feels isolated and alone,' said Kampmeier. 'We decided to keep it quite gray, to reflect both a feeling of England since we were not in England and to reflect a feeling of that location as well as the inner life of Gladys … just this gray, isolated, lost girl who's really like a fish out of water.' Directing for The Gilded Age is 'an extravagant experience,' adds Kampmeier, who also helmed episode 2 and the upcoming episode 6. 'This is a show where it's very luxurious to be able to create a really epic shot that is going to stay in the final cut because the audience is asking for it rather than jumping right to a closeup,' said Kampmeier, whose other credits include Outer Range, Star Trek: Picard, FBI: International and Tales of the Walking Dead. 'I do love it.' Best of Deadline Streamer Subscription Prices And Tiers – Everything To Know As Costs Rise And Ads Abound (Hello, Peacock) - Update 'Stick' Release Guide: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 'Stick' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The Apple TV+ Golf Series
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘The Gilded Age': How The HBO Drama Created A Castle Fit For A New Duchess
Gladys deserves the mother of all castles after the ordeal she went through in New York City. But production didn't need to go to England to find the perfect home for the new Duchess of Buckingham. Two different estates in Newport, R.I. — along with one in Long Island — served as Sidmouth Castle in the episode titled 'A Different World.' To achieve the opening shot, however, director Deborah Kampmeier relied on an actual pond in England to project the image of Gladys (Taissa Farmiga) and Hector (Ben Lamb) riding a carriage through the estate grounds. More from Deadline 'The Gilded Age' Courts Another Series High Audience With Season 3 Wedding Episode Carrie Coon Talks Emmy Nomination, Future Of 'The Gilded Age' & Whether She'd Return For 'The White Lotus' Season 4 Emmys 2025: Where's My Show? Why Some Of Your Favorites Won't Be Nominated This Year 'We put the visual effect of the carriage in upside down in the water, and then the wide shot of it moving through the countryside. That's England,' said Kampmeier. 'And then as we approach the castle, that is an approach to an estate in Newport. We brought in background actors to converge upon the carriage, and then a big crane goes up and over. We actually built onto what was already there in our visual effects. That's one piece of the puzzle.' The entrance and several of the castle rooms featured in the episode are from the Newport estates, while the sitting room and long hallways are from a mansion in Long Island. 'It is a collage that we use to create this epic castle feeling of a castle, using what we had available to us,' the director said. 'We've used up pretty much every mansion in Newport.' While Gladys is certainly accustomed to living in a large house, her new one has to feel to feel different — and so much worse. 'It was important to feel like she's walking into a very cold, very epic space in which she feels isolated and alone,' said Kampmeier. 'We decided to keep it quite gray, to reflect both a feeling of England since we were not in England and to reflect a feeling of that location as well as the inner life of Gladys … just this gray, isolated, lost girl who's really like a fish out of water.' Directing for The Gilded Age is 'an extravagant experience,' adds Kampmeier, who also helmed episode 2 and the upcoming episode 6. 'This is a show where it's very luxurious to be able to create a really epic shot that is going to stay in the final cut because the audience is asking for it rather than jumping right to a closeup,' said Kampmeier, whose other credits include Outer Range, Star Trek: Picard, FBI: International and Tales of the Walking Dead. 'I do love it.' Best of Deadline Streamer Subscription Prices And Tiers – Everything To Know As Costs Rise And Ads Abound (Hello, Peacock) - Update 'Stick' Release Guide: When Do New Episodes Come Out? 'Stick' Soundtrack: All The Songs You'll Hear In The Apple TV+ Golf Series
Daily Mail
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Inside California's castle of horrors: Millionaire owners' twisted baby factory finally exposed as shocked neighbors break silence
From the outside, the imposing castle-like design and gated exterior made the $4.1 million mansion appear like a fortress. Residents admired it as they walked their dogs through the ritzy Californi a neighborhood of Arcadia - and assumed the family living just enjoyed their privacy.
BBC News
3 days ago
- BBC News
Caerphilly Castle reopens after two-year renovation
Wales' biggest castle has reopened after two years of renovations aimed at "reconnecting communities with their heritage".The £8m worth of upgrades to Caerphilly Castle include a reconstruction of the Great Hall to how it appeared in its "medieval heyday", as well as new digital exhibits and accessibility improvements."The castle has stood as a guardian for over 750 years and… we're ensuring it remains at the heart of the town's identity for generations to come," said Jayne Bryant MS, housing and local government 13th Century structure was built by Gilbert de Clare, the Earl of Gloucester, as a fortress against Welsh resistance. The castle – the second biggest in the UK, behind Windsor - reopened on Saturday to include new interactive exhibitions that tell stories of the castle, including "power struggles, betrayals and liaisons with people who built and fought over the castle", according to Welsh heritage body is also an exhibit on John Crichton-Stuart, the fourth Marquis of Bute, who funded its reconstruction in the 1920s.A medieval passageway connected to the Great Hall has been opened for public access, while there have also been repairs to a major gatehouse. New paths and ramps, as well as a wildflower garden, have been for Culture Jack Sargeant, said the renovation has "made our shared history more accessible and engaging for everyone"."The Great Hall, interactive exhibits and improved accessibility demonstrate our commitment to preserving Wales' rich cultural heritage while ensuring it can be enjoyed by future generations," he Bryant said, the upgrades were "about reconnecting communities with their heritage and boosting local economies".
