Highcliffe Castle. An early 1800's Gothic Revival mansion, created from stone recycled from a French Château, the Grand' Maison des Andelys and the ruined Benedictine Abbey of St Peter at Jumieges. Home to a lord, then a Marchioness. Visited by royalty, Edward VII and Alexandra. Kaiser Wilhelm II convalesced here for 3 weeks. Home of Harry Gordon Selfridge, famed of Selfridge's, who's buried in the local churchyard. A children's convalescent home. A Roman Catholic seminary. Burned and left derelict for nearly 30 years. A dangerous forgotten ruin to explore...which we did. Then in the 90's a phoenix, metaphorical and actual, it was restored and reborn... it has to be said, the restoration is quite impressive. Today, open to the public for visits and events, the castle continues to be renovated. All that in under 200 years (1831 to present), not bad.
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