Castle View
Polly Checkland Harding
Tucked away in the lee of Lancaster Castle, at the heart of the city’s castle conservation area, Castle View is a contemporary cottage with one king size bed in its hidden-away bedroom and a huge ‘loaf’ sofa that converts into a second double bed. Designed by Harrison Pitt Architects and constructed by JT Constructs, the cottage was built from scratch but has a heritage feel to it and is entirely in keeping with the historic buildings in the area. Reclamation was a key part of the build, with scaffolding planks upcycled to become floorboards, stone from an old garden porch used for the walls and bricks from a recently demolished church in Rossendale also incorporated. Situated in a peaceful walled oasis, attention has been paid to every detail: there are remote control blackout blinds, a Smeg fridge-freezer and Egyptian cotton bed linen.
Owned by artist and micro-photographer Jenny Natusch, Castle View boasts a copper bath big enough for two with a rainfall shower (and homemade bubble bath), a wood burner, and its own parking space. The views of Lancaster Castle and the city are second to none, and the cottage has the advantage of being only a few minutes walk from Lancaster station, where there are regular trains to Oxenholme and the Lake District (12 minutes), the Yorkshire Dales (30 minutes) and Morecambe (10 minutes), with its beautiful bay, Winter Gardens theatre and landmark 1930s Art Deco hotel The Midland.
Castle View is also only ten minutes walk from Williamson Park, where you’ll find 54 acres of parkland, the Pavillion café and Butterfly House, with woodland walks and striking views to the Fylde Coast. The website also recommends independent cinema and theatre The Dukes, award-winning purveyors of artisanal bread Filbert’s Bakery, the bustling Lancaster Market and the delicious ice cream at Leonardini Gelato Boutique. Opened in 2017, Castle View has since welcomed guests from all over the world, including Australia, America, China and Malaysia – book a stay while exploring the city and its surrounds, and add your name to the enchanted visitors’ reviews in the guest book.
