Castle DrogoLarge Print Guide

This guide is intended to be used with an A3 version of this map. Please ask at reception if you do not have the A3 map.

Page 1

Welcome to Castle Drogo - the last castle built in England.

Constructed between 1911 and 1930, it was designed by the renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens for the self-made millionaire Julius Drewe as a family home.

Julius and his wife, Frances, had five children:

Adrian Drewe (1891 - 1917) Basil Drewe (1894 - 1974) Cedric Drewe (1896 - 1971) Mary Drewe (1900 - 1985) Frances Drewe (1907 - 1981)

1. The Visitor Centre

At the visitor centre there is a café and gift shop. The staff at the reception desk will explain what events are on. From here you may borrow the Tramper, get a lift to the castle in the buggy and pick up alternative formats of the information.

There is an accessible toilet at the visitor centre.

2. The Castle

The complex design of the building incorporates a series of flat roofs, so Lutyens used asphalt to waterproof the structure. This was a new material at the time, which was not fully understood, and is the reason that the castle was never fully watertight. Thanks to the major building conservation project which started in 2013, the castle is now watertight for the first time in its history.

Page 2

Inside the castle there are volunteer guides in many of the rooms. The route around the castle may change according to conservation activities. Follow the route to visit the rooms that are open to the public on the day of your visit.

The Entrance Hall

A large and impressive room with exposed granite walls and unpainted woodwork underline the impression of a Spartan Castle. Most of the furniture, as elsewhere in the Castle, comes from Wadhurst Hall in Sussex, where Mr Drewe had lived previously.

The Library and Billiard Room

The Medieval theme is continued in a room of the same proportions as the Entrance Hall. The Library is fitted with oak bookshelves to Lutyens’ design and an enormous fireplace. Opposite, the Billiard Room is divided off by a broad arch, the largest in the Castle and built with the help of a crane.

Drawing Room Corridor

Standing at the head of the stairs is an enormous clock; it was exhibited at the Paris Exhibition of 1900.

Page 3

The Drawing Room

The Drawing Room was used for entertaining, and coffee would be served here after dinner. Sofas and armchairs in a bold floral design give the room a comfortable feel. The two Venetian glass chandeliers were bought on Mr and Mrs Drewe’s honeymoon.

Main Staircase

A portrait of Julius Drewe hangs at the top of the stairs. Drewe is on the banks of the Tummel in Perthshire, wearing his favourite Burberry. Behind him lies a 39 pound salmon, which he caught in 1900.

Facing at the foot of the stairs is, Frances Richardson, Mrs Julius Drewe. She is shown standing in the rose garden at Wadhurst.

The Dining Room

The room is lined with Drewe family portraits. The room is dominated by the large central dining table which was used regularly by the Drewe family for grand dinner parties.

The Service Corridor

The corridor leading to the servants’ areas is as carefully designed by Lutyens as the rest of the house. The ceiling is alternately arched and vaulted with servants’ rooms leading off it.

At the end of the corridor is a large doll’s house made for the Drewes’ daughter, Mary, in 1906.

Page 4

The Butler’s Pantry

The butler would have briefed the manservants here every morning. The room contains the fine china and glass used in the house and large wooden sinks for washing it in. Lutyens even designed the fitted oak cupboards and central table.

Julius Drewe loved gadgets and the castle is full of the latest technology. This room housed the electric bell board and the telephone exchange, which made communication a lot easier in such a large house. Mr Drewe wanted cutting edge technology in his home.

Leading off the pantry is the Manservant's Bedroom; even for a functional space, Lutyens has paid great attention to detail and elegance in his design.

The Work Room

The conservation team work here when cleaning or caring for particular objects from the collection.

The Switch Room

The castle was designed with its own hydro-electricity supply, generated by turbines in the River Teign below the castle. There were 332 electrical plug sockets in the castle and the turbines transmitted 210 volts of DC power to the switch room. Later the Trust added an alternating current panel to cope with the increasing demand for electricity.

The hydro turbine has now been renovated and is once again able to generate electricity.

Page 5

The Green Corridor

The corridor takes its name from the carpet in both the corridor and the rooms on this level. The walls were once hung with tapestries, but now have pictures.

This was the first part of the Castle to be occupied by the family.

Mr Drewe’s Room

This room was used by Mr Drewe as a Study.

The Bedroom

The room is inter-connected with Mr Drewe’s Room as well as having its own door. Most of the contents were brought from their former home at Wadhurst.

The Bathroom

The bathroom has a splendid shower cabinet, with an elaborate control panel. It was restored to working order in 1992.

The Boudoir

This room was Mrs Drewe's sitting room and is furnished with comfortable furniture. Traditionally the room has always been hung with paintings.

Page 6

Adrian Drewe’s Room

Opening from the end of the corridor, the contents of this little room were first arranged by Mrs Drewe after her eldest son’s death in the First World War at Ypres in 1917. He had been involved in the planning of Castle Drogo from the start, and Mr and Mrs Drewe were deeply affected by his death.

3. Gardens

It is deliberately hidden from the castle, so make sure that you don’t miss it!

Lutyens also designed the formal gardens. It is a classic 20th century garden design, with beautiful planting and crisp architectural lines. Within the complex of terraces, there is a miraculous rose garden, which was created for Frances Drewe.

Additional information can be found at the Luncheon House.

4. The Orchard

In fine weather visitors are welcome to picnic in the orchard.

5. Rhododendron Gardens

Walk through the mature Rhododendron Gardens to reach the Chapel and for views across Dartmoor.

You can also look up at the impressive south end of the castle.

Page 7

6. The Chapel

Situated on the edge of the castle wall, visitors may look inside the small family chapel. It often houses exhibits relating to the Drewe family.

7. The Drogo Estate

The Drogo Estate is situated on the edge of Dartmoor alongside the Teign Gorge. Nearby is Fingle Woods, an ancient woodland managed by the National Trust in partnership with the Woodland Trust.

Please return this guide before you leave, thank you.

Page 8

Formatted by the Heritage Ability project, part of Living Options Devon (Charity number 1102489).

www.HeritageAbility.org www.LivingOptions.org

Formatted by

Part of

In partnership with

Funded by

Page 9