Castle Drogo
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Welcome to Castle Drogo Julius Drewe built Castle Drogo after making his fortune in a chain of grocery shops called the Home & Colonial Stores. His vision for a family home was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, one of the most important and infuential architects of the 20th century, and built between 1911 and 1930. Inspired by the ruged Dartmoor tors that surround it, Castle Drogo was laboriously shaped and chiselled by hand out of local granite by a team of skilled craftsmen. Architectural drawings, plans and letters held here indicate that it was an ambitious and costly project. Our volunteers are here to help you and answer any questions you may have. We know it is tempting, but please don’t touch anything as you can cause permanent damage. Library and Billiard Room This room was used as a family room by the Drewe family and a place for playing billiards and enjoying afternoon tea. You are invited to pause by the f eplacer and watch the flm. On the walls of the Library and Billiard Room hang four tapestries. The bookcases were designed by Lutyens. On top of them you will see a set of ten Hispano-Moresque dishes with scenes of deer, fsh, birds and fowers. The dishes have recently had conservation work to clean them and repair breaks and cracks. A large arch divides the Library and Billiard Room. This arch weighs over 30 tonnes and has 49 stones in it; each cut and shaped by hand. The centre stone is called the keystone and holds the arch together. As the Clerk of Works, John Coates Walker wrote: ‘With an arch of this size one is always anxious until the Key is in.’ On leaving the Library turn left along the corridor. National Trust - Castle Drogo Drawing Room This is one of the grand public rooms of the castle and was used by the family, particularly Julius’s wife Frances Drewe, for entertaining. This room was designed to have a Georgian feel. Behind the piano, the windows overlook a staircase to wassu g partest it of the castle built on at a later date. Take a seat and soak up the atmosphere of the room on the window seats. The two impressive chandeliers are Venetian Glass and were bought by Julius and Frances Drewe on their honeymoon. Head out of the room and down the staircase. Don’t miss the 1900s longcase clock at the top of the stairs. National Trust - Castle Drogo The Staircase At Castle Drogo Lutyens created spaces with a strong sense of drama. He did this by designing long corridors with barrel vaulted and domed ceilings or through the use of broad fights of stairs as you can see here where the main staircase descends elegantly to the Dining Room. The monumental windows food this space with light and create the illusion of dizzying height. Lutyens made the most of this staircase by using the central core to hide an internal staircase which runs through s,four giving foor access to the family bedrooms. Portraits The two large portraits hanging on opposite ends of the stairwell are of Julius and Frances Drewe. They were painted by Scottish artist Charles Martin Hardie in 1902. Julius was passionate about fshing and is painted near the River Tummel in Perthshire. Frances Drewe is pictured wearing a fashionable Edwardian dress in the garden of the Drewe’s former home, Wadhurst Hall in Sussex. National Trust - Castle Drogo Dining Room The Drewes frst ate in this room at Christmas 1926. Apart from afternoon tea all the family meals after this point were eaten here. Family portraits of Julius and earlier generations of his family gaze down from the walls. The portrait of Julius facing the head of the table was painted in 1931, the year he died. The dining table is laid for dinner. The glasses were chosen by Julius and Frances while on honeymoon in Venice. The electric candlesticks are an example of the type of gadgets and new technolog that Julius loved. In a letter, Lutyens mentioned the use of wood panelling to make some rooms look less austere. The exposed granite frieze is a distinctive design feature of the Dining Room. Looking through the glass door you can see the Chapel roof which was used as a test before the major project to make the main roof watertight. National Trust - Castle Drogo Service Corridor The Drewes would rarely have visited this area as it was the domain of the servants. However, great care was taken by Lutyens when he designed it. The craftsmanship in the carving of the stone arches in this area is just as high a standard as in the grand rooms of the castle. Lutyens also included features such as domes which add to the quality of the space. This window ofers a good view of the Chapel Garden created in 1929-1932. It is an intimate, sheltered space, enclosed by the tall granite forecourt wall to the right and the chapel to the left. The formal layout of the garden was also designed by Lutyens. There are several smaller rooms of this corridor that were used by the servants to support the lifestyle of the Drewe family. At the end of the corridor is Mary Drewe’s doll’s house. This was hand made for her and has its own electricity and running water. National Trust - Castle Drogo The Butler’s Pantry This room was key to the running of the Drewe household. Lutyens designed every piece of furniture in the space to perfectly ft its function. Oak cupboards provide plenty of room to store pre cious china and glassware and the work table com bines practicality with elegant design. The sinks in the window were wooden so that the butler could wash fne china and glassware without it getting chipped. In the corner of the room is a bell board, to let servants know when they were needed in other areas of the house by the family and a telephone exchange, which directed the 18 phones within the castle. Manservant’s Room This small room of the Butler’s Pantry was used as a bed-sitting room by the hall boy. He was constantly on call and provided extra security. The room is furnished with simple but good quality pieces from Heal’s, a fashionable London department store. As you continue down the corridor the Workroom is on your left and then take a look down the steps to see the Wine Cellar. National Trust - Castle Drogo Switch Room Head to the end of the corridor to see the Switch Room. Modern power was an important feature of life at Castle Drogo. The castle had its own hydro-electric supply generated by the Turbine House. This was designed by Lutyens and is located 200 feet below the castle on the bank of the River Teign. The turbines transmitted 210 volts of DC power into the 332 electrical plug sockets installed throughout the castle. On your right is the ‘Hydro Turbine Power Monitor’ a contemporary installation by MDesign. Kitchen See the beauty and attention to detail in one of Lutyens’ most memorable rooms in the castle. Look out for features such as the curved edges of the f s/wallsoor which were designed to make sweeping foors easier. National Trust - Castle Drogo Scullery There are three deep sinks in here for preparing food and washing up. The rectangular table is ftted with grinders and scales. Lutyens designed the hexagonal chopping block and the large pestle and mortar. In the corner of the scullery is a dumb waiter for getting food to the upper foors. Larder The larder consists of fve small rooms grouped around an octagonal lightwell. This clever design, along with granite walls and slate shelves, kept food cool and fresh. National Trust - Castle Drogo The North Tower The North Tower was designed as a service wing and this staircase allowed staf discreet access to all four s.f oor It is a cantilevered staircase hand cut from granite blocks and designed by Lutyens so that the load is spread along the length with no support needed on the inside. The impressive oak balustrade sits independently from the stairs. National Trust - Castle Drogo The Green Corridor The three rooms along this corridor are Mr Drewe’s Room, the Bedroom and the Boudoir. They were originally designed to be the bedrooms of Julius and Frances’s three sons but were actually used by Julius and Frances when they frst moved into the castle. Mr Drewe’s Room This room was Mr Drewe’s dressing room and contains his 18th century mahogany wardrobe. The large revolving rent table was originally situated in Mr Drewe’s study on the foor below. The fne panelling was constructed by Dart & Francis to Lutyens’s design. There are two full-sized mirrors hidden behind panelled doors in these rooms. Head through the connecting door to the Bedroom. National Trust - Castle Drogo The Bedroom This was Julius and Frances Drewe’s bedroom. It originally housed a large four poster bed which sadly is no longer at Castle Drogo. The installation in this room explores the dilemma in deciding how to display this room without its key piece of furniture. Bathroom Of the corridor is a state-of-the-art bathroom. In the mirror you can see the impressive combined enamel bathtub and shower refected. National Trust - Castle Drogo The Boudoir This was Mrs Drewe’s Room, and like the other rooms of the Green Corridor, is cosy enough for day-to-day living; a contrast to the large grand rooms used for entertaining.