Gazetteer of
British Place Names

Peckforton Castle is a Victorian country house built in the style of a mediæval castle, near Peckforton, Cheshire. It stands in woodland at the north end of Peckforton Hills. The house was built between 1844 and 1850 for John Tollemache, a wealthy Cheshire landowner, estate manager, and member of parliament. It was designed by Anthony Salvin in the Gothic style. The buildings are arranged round three sides of a sub-rectangular courtyard and entered through a gatehouse in the south-west. A separate chapel on south side is linked to the remainder by curtain wall. During the Second World War it was used as a hostel for physically disabled children. The Tollemache family used the castle for occasional gatherings, but otherwise it was unused until 1969. From 1969 to 1980 the castle was leased by the 4th Lord Tollemache to George W. Barrett, and it again became a private residence and closed to the public. The right wing and tower and the castle gardens were restored by Barrett, an American employed by the U.S. Government. His daughter Pascale's wedding was the first to be held in the chapel and a special decree had to be obtained by the Archbishop of Canterbury to legally hold Catholic weddings in the grounds of the castle.The castle was bought in 1988 by Evelyn Graybill, who converted it into a hotel. In 2006 it was purchased by the Naylor family, who expanded its use to include hosting weddings, conferences and other functions. It is within the council area of Cheshire East.
Historic England Grade I Listed 1135729.

Place Type: Victorian House
Historic County: Cheshire
Lat, Long: 53.117879,-2.6988198
Grid Reference: SJ533580
Police Area: Cheshire
Council Area: Cheshire East
Civil Parish: Peckforton CP
Country: England

GBPNID: 319505
Entry Type: Main listing (P)
URL: https://gazetteer.org.uk/place/Peckforton_Castle,_Cheshire_319505

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