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Author
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Topic: Lists of Private and Public Fortified Properties
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Bluewater
Senior Member
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posted 03-29-2000 09:23 PM
  
Does anyone know if there's a lit (perhaps published by a trust organization or the like) that lists which castles are publically or privately owned? And where could one get such list?Bluewater |
wurdsmiff
unregistered
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posted 03-30-2000 04:03 AM
Historic Scotland provide data on listed buildings, though you have to be a member of 'Friends of Historic Scotland' to access it and it does not detail ownership.
My web site gives the data you seek for west central Scotland, and data is supplied by the links from Philip's site at
http://www.castlesontheweb.com/members/philipdavis/index.html .
The only comprehensive list of all Scottish sites that I know of giving such information is 'The Castles of Scotland', by Martin Coventry,published by Goblinshead, due shortly in a 3rd edition.------------------
'Give me the groves that lofty brave,
The storms, by Castle Gordon'.
Visit my web-site at
www.castlesontheweb.com/members/wurdsmiff/castles.htm Gordon.
[This message has been edited by wurdsmiff (edited 03-30-2000).] |
Philip Davis
unregistered
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posted 03-30-2000 07:28 AM
There is no such list for England and Wales. It is possible to find out who owns some properties but not all and then only with some difficulty. If the site is an Ancient Monument (most are but not all) it's ownership is recorded by the various Royal Commissions, who do publish list but these are rapidly out of date (some of the reports were published before the first world war). Otherwise the records are kept on file at the Commissions offices where they are available to the general public, but not with any great ease. The registration of land ownership is still very incomplete. It is now required but only on the change of owner so some land which has not changed owner since the law changed in the late 70's (I think) is still unregistered. This information is again available to the general public but not with ease and would probably require a personal visit to the appropriate office.In practice the situation is more straight forward. The greatest number of castle sites open to visitors are in the care of English Heritage (They are often not owned by EH, but remain privately owned). The same is true for Wales where CADW is the Quango. The National Trust then own several castles, including earthworks which they don't ever mention. Castles in town centres are often owned by the local authority (ie Guildford, Bridgenorth, Knaresborough etc.). As a general guide if the castle has a web site in my listing it is open to the public otherwise it isn't. ------------------
Neurotics build castles in the air, psychotics live in them, Psychiatrists charge the rent, art therapists do the interior design and nurses clean out the garderobes!
http://www.castlesontheweb.com/members/philipdavis/index.html
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Bluewater
Senior Member
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posted 03-30-2000 01:21 PM
Thanks for your replies! I'm not sure if I was clear exactly on one thing tho, what I meant to ask wasn't WHO owned what property, but if it was privately owned or not (I can always find out who later). Are properties managed/associated with organizations such as the National Trust, English heritage etc locked into certain legalities should they ever come up for sale (ie do they have to remain public)? I'd plan on leaving it open certain times of the year (probably tourist seasons and perhaps a month or so off season...I think it's nice that people open their castles/properties to the public...they arn't oblidged to, nor should they be, but they understand those of us that have a castle fetish heh heh) I know here in the states once a property enters certain ladders on the "preservation" lists it becomes very difficult to do anything with them (we're talking permit after permit after permit to fix plumbing lol). My primary interests (area-wise) vary widely...the Highlands are big (of course), and some of the Lowlands (around Stirling and down towards the border). I was in Scotland and England for three months last year and just fell in love with the area. In England, anywhere within a fair distance from London is nice, and I'm also quite smitten with the Welsh area. The York area is also a biggy (border castles/keeps/towers etc). I have the Castles of Scotland, but not the 3rd Ed. I will rectify that however.
Bluewater
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wurdsmiff
unregistered
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posted 03-30-2000 01:37 PM
The situation as to who personally owns a particular property is similar in Scotland as it is in England, where a personal enquiry is the most efficient method of finding out.
As for national bodies selling properties, this is very unlikely, as discussed in a previous topic, and the comment by canadab is probably the simplest answer.
Go to http://www.castlesontheweb.com/quest/Forum7/HTML/000193.html
The 3rd edition of CoS is still being written, but should be available this summer. ------------------
'Give me the groves that lofty brave,
The storms, by Castle Gordon'.
Visit my web-site at
www.castlesontheweb.com/members/wurdsmiff/castles.htm Gordon.
[This message has been edited by wurdsmiff (edited 03-30-2000).] |
Bluewater
Senior Member
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posted 03-30-2000 02:34 PM
Thanks Gordon. i was just curious, as I know there are several "preservation" groups in the UK, and not all of em are "government" groups. Over here there have been small groups that have folded and/or sold their property to someone they felt comfortable would keep up a "standard of preservation" (which in many cases has been done, rather than let the property fall to pieces as it were). Bluewater |
Philip Davis
unregistered
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posted 03-30-2000 03:37 PM
In practice I imagine buying a castle to be fairly straight forward if you are looking for a Scottish tower house, these come onto the market with some regularity. Other castles do become available occassional. Addington in Kent was brought a few years ago, Chilham castle was recently sold (rather unfortunately since it looks like it will not be open to the public). With the death of the former government minster Alan Clark (Famous for 'sleeping' with a mother and daughter) the fate of Saltwood castle, also in Kent, may be in question (Perhaps this castle could be brought by someone who will preserve it's walls, which are at risk, and who will open it to the public.) Cooling castle, again in Kent, is currently up for sale at the asking price of 50k to 100k pounds, this gets you a ruin with which you can do nothing expect spend money on it to preserve it, an estimated 1 million pounds is required. A better option may be Harewood castle, just outside Leeds, This is about to fall down and some conscessions to may be made to allow this to be restored to preserve it. However, I imagine EH would require a very well researched and prepared proposal. I imagine the cost of restoring this 14th fortified house to habitable status would be a couple of million pounds, just making it safe would be a million pounds.An intersting article appeared in the Daily Telegraph on 19-2-2000 called Castles in despair. A search of Electronic Telegraph will get to the article (you will need to register with Electronic Telegraph) see http://www.telegraph.co.uk ------------------
Neurotics build castles in the air, psychotics live in them, Psychiatrists charge the rent, art therapists do the interior design and nurses clean out the garderobes!
http://www.castlesontheweb.com/members/philipdavis/index.html
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Bluewater
Senior Member
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posted 03-30-2000 09:28 PM
Thanks for the reply Philip! What I'm looking for, more or less, is a small, fortified structure, pref. pre-17th cent. (or at least a large survivable portion thereof). Something like a small keep, border castle, etc. A large tower, or a tower with adjacent or nearby additional structure would be pref. I know there's a border tower for sale somewere...I think near the East coast...I thought I saw an ad/web page for it, but I'm not positive.How much are they estimating Saltwood would cost to restore (or at least stabilize)? Thanks for your help (again!). If I am becoming annoying let me know.  Bluewater Bluewater | |
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