Built / Designed For: John Zepheniah Holwell

House & Family History: Castle Hall was built in the late 18th century for John Zepheniah Holwell, a Hindu scholar and former governor of Bengal who was a survivor of the Black Hole of Calcutta. There has been some speculation that Holwell built Castle Hall in a Hindu style, which, if true, would make it the earliest in Britain in that style. This remains conjecture because the only physical evidence of what the House looked like in its first incarnation are photographs and drawings made after it was rebuilt by R.F Greville, Jr. in in the mid-19th century in an Italian Renaissance style. One of the most unusual owners of Castle Hill was Benjamin Rotch, a Nantucket Quaker who owned a fleet of whaling ships, who purchased the House in 1804. Between 1910 and 1917 Castle Hall was owned by Benedictine nuns and known as St. Brides Abbey. After the nuns decamped, the House became an observatory. It was demolished in 1935.

House Listed: Demolished

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: John Zepheniah Holwell, 18th century. Benjamin Rotch, 1804-19 R.F. Greville, Jr., mid-19th century.

Current Ownership Type: Demolished

Primary Current Ownership Use: Demolished

House Open to Public: No

Historic Houses Member: No