Longford Castle, Elizabethan prodigy house in Odstock, England
Longford Castle is an Elizabethan prodigy house in Odstock, England, distinguished by its triangular plan with round towers at each corner. The estate stands on the banks of the River Avon south of Salisbury in Wiltshire and is surrounded by formal gardens protected as a heritage site.
Thomas Gorges and his wife Helena Snakenborg commissioned the estate starting in 1576 and used gold and silver from a Spanish Armada shipwreck to finance construction. In the 20th century it served as a hospital during World War I and housed British and American troops during World War II, including Field Marshal Montgomery.
The name comes from the tradition of Elizabethan estates, when country houses like this one displayed the power and wealth of English noble families. Visitors today experience the connection between architecture and religious symbolism reflected in the three-sided shape of the building.
The estate opens for pre-booked tours on 28 days each year, allowing visitors to explore the interiors. The formal gardens are part of the visit and offer insight into the historical garden design of the region.
The three-sided shape was deliberately chosen and is unusual in English architecture of this period, as most country houses were built rectangular or square. This geometric particularity makes the estate one of the few examples of its kind in England.
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