Dinton Castle, Buckinghamshire, UK
Dinton Castle (also known as Dinton Folly) is located north of the village of Dinton, Buckinghamshire and was built as a successor to Dinton Hall, designed by Sir John Vanhattern in 1769. the body displays its summary. fossils, ammonites, embedded in limestone walls. “The dummy castle” or the dummy is an important site with a heritage and danger record and has been Grade II listed since 1951, when it was in a state of ruin.
History
Dinton Castle is located on Oxford Road, Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, UK HP17 8TX adjacent to the Saxon Cemetery. By the 20th century, various artifacts and bones had been found near the structure. Local rumors suggest that the 17th century actor John Bigg, who lived until his death in a cave in the house before the castle was built.
The tower may have been the servants quarters for Dinton Hall in the 1800s. At one time, it could also be a temporary meeting place for local non-conformist congregations.
Listed for Grade II in 1951, the abstract said: “Octagonal plan with circular towers to east and west. 2 storeys, tower carrying up to 3 storeys”. In the late 20th century, the castle was added to the English Heritage at Risk Register and the council house was on the at risk register.
A BBC report said the property was sold in 2012 and another source said the buyer was Brett O’Consnor. At that time, the castle was still in ruins.
Restoration
In 2009, the structure was stabilized, new lintels were installed, and some windows and doors were repaired.
In 2016, a Spanish architect, Jaime (or Jimmy) Fernandez, and his English-born wife, Mimi, bought the house next door.[8][9] On 26 January 2017 Fernandez was granted planning permission by Aylesbury Vale District Council for the refurbishment of the main building into two bedroom apartments.
The 2017-2018 restoration of Dinton Castle into a family home has attracted media attention. In September 2018, the process of turning the building into a ruin was featured on Channel 4’s Grand Designs program and Grand Design released a series of photos detailing the results of the renovation.
The restoration was also featured in an article in the Wall Street Journal. The building was described as follows by Country Life (magazine) in February 2020:
Three quirky, octagonal floors rise from almost an acre of Waddesdon Estate countryside, which one can view in its fullest from the panoramic roof terrace. The building houses a sitting room, two en-suite bedrooms and a welcoming kitchen on the ground floor.
The renovation cost over £300,000, on top of the original purchase price of £100,000. After the restoration, the castle housed the Fernandez family, with their two children, for the next five years.
The Fernandezes sold the mansion in 2021 claiming that their family had grown the property. The new owner made Dinton Castle available on Airbnb in June 2022.
