history
continued ...
Burges's startling turret designs for CasteIl Coch, which
make such an exotic silhouette, were always historically
controversial. Burges defended them as authentic, citing
manuscript sources, continental examples, and the lack of
evidence to the contrary. When Burges suddenly died in 1881,
before much of the interior work on the castle had been
completed, work continued under Burges's colleagues, who
were loyal to his intentions and familiar with his methods.
Whereas the exterior is a reasonably accurate reconstruction
of a medieval castle, the interior represents the extravagant
side of Burges's imagination. CasteIl Coch was finished
1891 but was rarely used. Lord Bute died in 1900, but his
fantastic creation is still valued as a magnificent example
of High Victorian Gothic architecture and as an idealized
representation of a medieval castle.
For the castle, Burges designed furniture, stained glass,
jewelry and metal work that is reflected in the wonderfully
ornate interiors. External features include the drawbridge,
portcullis, the projecting wooden platform and the statue
of the Virgin and Child; the only softening touch to an
otherwise stark exterior.
