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Carn Brea Castle
Carn Brea Castle on Carn Brea is a 14th-century grade II listed granite stone building which was extensively remodelled in the 18th century as a hunting lodge in the style of a castle for the Basset family. The building is in private use as a restaurant.[1] DescriptionThe castle is a small stone folly decorated in the romantic ideal style of a medieval/gothic castle. It has an irregular layout with four rectangular turrets round a core of the same height and an embattled parapet. The building is built into a large stone outcrop with a steep drop on the rear. The building was designed as a hunting lodge rather than a dwelling and measures 60 by 10 feet (18.3 by 3.0 m).[2] History The castle was originally built as a chapel, in 1379, thought to be dedicated to St Michael.[3] Antiquarian William Worcester recorded that there were 32 castles on the Cornish peninsula, including Carn Brea which was described as a tower.[4] The castle was extensively rebuilt in later periods, primarily in the 18th century by the Basset family as a hunting lodge.[5] It is considered a folly, due to the huge uncut boulders that make up part of its foundations, giving the impression of the building melting into the land.[6] Its use as a beacon for ships was recorded in 1898 when stipulated in the lease, the tenant agreeing to show a light in the north facing window. The castle had periods of disuse and disrepair in the 1950s to 1970s, until private renovation in 1975-1980. The building was classed by English Heritage as grade II listed in 1975.[7] In the 1980s the building was converted into a Middle Eastern cuisine restaurant.[8] Media interest
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