Calne Blue Plaques #10: Castle House

The unprepossessing buildings behind these borrowed pillars stand on the approximate site of Calne's long lost castle. It used to overlook the River Marden in what is now Castlefields Park. This is the last of Calne's blue plaques, though there are other plaques, and I could blip blue plaques from elsewhere.

Castle House
The blue plaque quotes John Aubrey’s comment about the house being the site of Calne Castle. There had never been any proof of a castle until the 2010 archaeological dig around the site, which makes it pretty clear that there was a 13th century fortified house on castle hill.
Castle House was built in the mid 17th century for Walter Norborne, the Lord of Hilmarton Manor , who was M.P. for Calne in 1640. In 19th century it was bought by Henry Harris.
The house was added to over the years. In 1770 the L-shaped plan was changed to a U shape with designs by Robert Adam.
The Town Council bought the building in 1961 and converted it to flats, but the older part of the house was damaged by fire in 1967 and demolished in 1974. It was replaced by a wholly incongruous block of flats. The 18th century outer walls still remain and a fine, period, stone chimney piece was removed to number 3 Market Hill.
The 18th century stone gate piers on the same side of the road belonged to the entrance of the drive to Castle House and the ones on the opposite side of the road marked the entrance to the coach house and stables now converted to a dwelling house, 22 Castle Street. - Calne Heritage

L.
10.1.2015 (2027 hr)

Blip #1470 (#1720 including archived blips)
Consecutive Blip #032
Day #1753
LOTD #705 (#825 including archived blips)

Alternative:
Plaque

Lens: Pentax 12-24 mm

Calne series
Calne Blue Plaque series

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