Grade I listed Peckforton Castle was built between 1844 and 1850 for John Tollemache, the largest landowner in Cheshire at the time, who was described by William Ewart Gladstone as "the greatest estate manager of his day".
Although it was built as a family home its design was that of a medieval castle. It has a gatehouse, a portcullis, a dry moat, external windows that are little more than arrow slots, and large towers. In 1851 The Illustrated London News said that it "seems to exhibit the peculiar beauties of Carnarvon Castle without its inconveniences" and in 1858 Sir George Gilbert Scott called it "the largest and most carefully and learnedly executed Gothic mansion of the present" and that it was "the very height of masquerading". It is regarded as "the last serious fortified home built in England" and "it was executed to the highest standards and is one of the great buildings of its age".
Today, the castle is one of the most outstanding hotels and prestigious wedding venues in the country, and its upkeep is paramount to maintaining this crown. Recclesia has assisted the estate with several phases of glass conservation work, most recently to the chapel where all of the weddings are held. This is a delightful space, but the windows had deteriorated to the point at which they could no longer resist the weather in this exposed location.
Over a year-long period, Recclesia undertook the removal, conservation, repair and reinstatement of all of the windows in the chapel one by one, having to carefully thread the works in-between the continual wedding and event bookings. This meant we had to create a set of temporary stand-in panels so that guests would be unaware of the work in progress.
Peckforton Castle is well worth a visit if you have never been, with a range of outdoor events available, hotel and of course event space.