Highcliffe Castle is a Grade I listed building
and only a short drive away from the Waterford Lodge Hotel which was once one of the gate lodges of the castle. The castle which was built between 1831 and 1835 by Lord Stuart de Rothesay has been described as "the most important remaining example of the Romantic and Picturesque style of architecture."
The castle is open daily from 1st February to 23rd December. Inside the Castle there are 5 partially restored staterooms housing a gift shop, visitor centre and galleries featuring a changing programme of exhibitions. Guided tours* of the un-restored parts of the building run at 2pm every Sunday and Tuesday. Guided tours can be pre-booked for groups (minimum 10 people) at other times. An enthusiastic and dedicated team of over 70 people from the local community staff the Castle and are on hand to answer your questions about the Castle and it's chequered history.
Much of the local stone used to build Highcliffe Castle came from the nearby Isle of Purbeck, though Portland, Bath and Totterstone have also been identified. In total 14 different types have been identified. The French medieval stonework, collected by Lord Stuart de Rothesay, was brought across the English Channel to nearby Steamer Point and required twelve barges to transport it.
Probably the most magnificent piece, and most notable, is the oriel window. Known as the "King's Oriel Window", this was brought, complete, from the Grande Maison des Andelys. Its name was acquired because Antoine de Bourbon had died in the room lit by the window following the siege of Rouen in 1562, while his son, the future Henry IV, knelt beside him.
The King's Oriel Window has been repaired and renovated by the Council's specialist stonework sub-contractors, St Blaise, as part of Phase 3 of the programme. Included amongst the artefacts brought to Highcliffe by Lord Stuart de Rothesay was a magnificent collection of stained glass. Ranging from the 12th to 19th centuries in date, it is mainly French but with outstanding examples from Germany and Switzerland.
A complete 16th century window, known as the "Jesse Window", is the jewel in the Castles crown.
The Jesse Window became the large north window of the Castle's Great Hall. From the church of St Vigour, Rouen, the window depicts the tree of Jesse and dates from 1547. Further French glass was added to complete the window by Christchurch glazier, Charles Holloway in 1838 who has worked with Louisa Stuart who had created new designs to complete the window.
Two disastrous fires in 1967 and 1968 caused some fire crazing, but more seriously, the Castle was empty and open to theft and vandalism. It was decided that the glass should be removed for safekeeping and much of it remains in storage. In 1997 an appeal was launched by the Highcliffe Castle Charitable Trust to raise funds to reinstate the Jesse Window and, happily, in 1998 the window was put back in place.
