Since we loved our vacations in England, and we really enjoyed staying in a castle one night, we found this particularly interesting! - Rob and Tom
A Nearly Ruined Landmark Is Transformed into a Modern House
You can even spend the night in the beautifully restored castle. By Lauren Piro, Good Housekeeping magazine
There's nothing that makes us swoon quite like a piece of history gaining a new, interesting life. The Astley Castle in Warwickshire, England has been around for nearly a thousand years, and served as the fortified manor for three generations of the royal family. Through the centuries, it changed hands many times, and was last used as a hotel during World War II before it was sadly abandoned and vandalized.
In 2007, it was listed as one of the sixteen most endangered sites in Britain, and The Landmark Trust (a preservation charity) decided to search for an architect to restore and repurpose the structure. Witherford Watson Mann Architects won the competition, Designboom reports, and their vision and final result is simply a breathtaking display of the new marrying the old.
The new design honors the castle's history, relying on the natural look of brick and wood blended with the structure's original materials, and huge glass windows to showcase the estate's countryside view. The rooms are now outfitted with modern appointments and conveniences, but are meant to mirror how each space was originally used.
Today, history buffs (or just lovers of beautiful homes, like us) can rent the house for vacation. The castle sleeps eight and rates start around $1400 for four nights — not too shabby for a manor that queens used to call their own.
Take a tour:
TELL US: Would you spend the night here?
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Photos: Courtesy of the Landmark Trust
SOURCE: http://www.goodhousekeeping.com/home/decorating-ideas/castle-house-restoration?src=nl&mag=ghk&list=nl_gga_news&date=100214
