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All the United Kingdom England Mow Cop Mow Cop Castle

Mow Cop Castle

This crumbling folly looks like an enchanted left over from Middle Earth.

Mow Cop, England

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waspy 6469pp
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Mow Cop Castle   j.e.mcgowan on Flickr
Mow Cop Castle   j.e.mcgowan on Flickr
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Mow Cop Castle   Nmwatson on Wikipedia
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About

Sitting atop a rocky promontory just outside a small English village is what appears to be the ruins of some medieval stronghold, but Mow Cop Castle is actually the work of a much more modern rich person. 

Hollywood set designers bend over backwards to create fantasy ruins in films, but it usually takes a wealthy eccentric to create the real thing. Such was the case when Randle Wilbraham, a member of the landed gentry living in nearby Rode Hall, built Mow Cop Castle in 1754. The folly was built as a summer home for Wilbraham, with the added benefit of providing a beautiful sight that could be seen from Rode Hall. Despite not being as old as it looks, the castle was designed to look like the ruins of a bygone medieval castle. Wilbraham could bring guests for outings at his fantastical little piece of fake history. 

While it looks like the remains of a much larger castle, the folly was built to seem like ruins, and only has the one main tower, and the free-standing arch at its side. Even if it's not a piece of medieval history, the castle has been marked as a protected historical site (it is over 250 years old), so it won't be crumbling any more than it already LOOKS like it has.

Mow Cop Castle, a popular local landmark, used to be open to the public, but after someone committed suicide at the site, a fence was erected to keep people out. It's a shame that it is no longer freely accessible, but the look of the castle from afar is possibly its finest feature.     

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Castles Follies And Grottoes

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Added By

waspy

Edited By

EricGrundhauser, rbenn250, deb7tony22, rkari...

  • EricGrundhauser
  • rbenn250
  • deb7tony22
  • rkari
  • Noah3134

Published

December 14, 2015

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mow_Cop_Castle
  • http://www.mowcop.info/htm/industry/castle.htm
  • http://www.mowcop.com/history.asp
Mow Cop Castle
Mow Cop, England, ST7 3PA
United Kingdom
53.113, -2.2143

Nearby Places

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Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,212
Stories 144

Nearby Places

Little Moreton Hall

Congleton, England

miles away

Biddulph Grange

Biddulph, England

miles away

Harry's Wall

Holmes Chapel, England

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of England

England

United Kingdom

Places 2,212
Stories 144

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