Pennsylvania Castle
Pennsylvania Castle, Gothic Revival mansion in Portland, England
Pennsylvania Castle is a Gothic Revival mansion on the Isle of Portland, built from local stone with turrets, crenellated parapets, and a circular tower overlooking Church Ope Cove. It contains nine bedroom suites, an indoor swimming pool adaptable for banqueting, and can accommodate up to 100 guests for events.
Built in 1800 for John Penn, a grandson of Pennsylvania's founder, the mansion hosted major figures during World War II. Churchill, Eisenhower, and de Gaulle stayed at the property during the war years.
The mansion is named after Pennsylvania to honor William Penn, the founder of that American state, reflecting the builder's family connection to America. This transatlantic link shapes how visitors understand the property and its distinctive character today.
The property offers direct access to a private cove with multiple landscaped gardens in various styles. Visitors should note that it sits on an island and pathways to outdoor areas may be uneven.
The mansion appears in Thomas Hardy's 1892 novel The Well-Beloved under the fictional name Sylvania Castle, highlighting its influence on literature of that era. This appearance in a classic English novel has given the location a lasting place in literary history.
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