Croft Castle, a grand estate in Herefordshire, England, has a rich history dating back to the 14th and 15th centuries. It was originally owned by the Croft family who settled at the site by the time of the Domesday Book. The Crofts were a prominent family in national politics throughout the Middle Ages and up to the 18th century. However, due to their declining fortunes, they were forced to give up the estate in 1746. Croft Castle was then acquired by the ironmaster Richard Knight, whose son-in-law Thomas Johnes commissioned Thomas Farnolls Pritchard to remodel the interiors in 1765.
Croft Castle’s exterior features massive walls and battlemented towers that reflect its rugged grandeur. In contrast, Pritchard’s interiors are light and delicate, particularly the spacious Gothic staircase hall. The interior features Jacobean panelling, 18th century Gothick plasterwork and woodwork, Rococo chimneypieces and fine neo-Georgian decoration.
After the Knights, the Crofts returned to the Castle in 1923, but on Major Owen Croft’s death in 1956, the estate passed to the National Trust. Today, visitors can explore the castle and its beautiful grounds, learning about its fascinating history and admiring the intricate details of Pritchard’s interiors.
Posted by CharmaineZoe’s Marvelous Melange on 2018-05-13 20:11:42