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1876 - 1939The exterior presents a magnificent group of buildings including a Chapel, Keep, Stables, Coach House, Grain Store, Bakery and servant's quarters with the whole castle being built in Redstone quarried on the adjacent hill. The experience of visiting the castle actually starts when leaving the public highway and passing through the Gate House Lodge and then driving up through the forest for approximately ¾ of a mile before entering the castle ward via an open carriage-way protected by a portcullis. John Tollemache became a Lord in 1876 in recognition of his services to agriculture and also served as a Conservative MP and JP for many years. He is reputed to have rebuilt over 100 farmhouses, modernised the buildings on his estate and to have spent £280,000 on farmsteads and cottages. He became the father of 24 sons (by his two marriages) and one daughter. Only 12 of his sons survived him. He died in 1890 at the ripe old age of 85 and was succeeded by his son Wilbraham Frederick who died in 1904 and who in turn was succeeded by his grandson Bentley Lionel John. Lord Bentley Tollemache was a clever engineer and a very keen croquet player and so kept the lawn within the ward meticulously for this purpose. He died in January 1955 and was succeeded by his cousin Lord John Edward Hamilton Tollemache as Fourth Baron. On his death in 1975 his eldest son Timothy John Edward succeeded to the title and continues to be head of the household. The last member of the Tollemache family to live in the castle was Lord Bentley; he left Peckforton and took up residence in Eastbourne in 1939. |
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