Heritage hotspot
National Trust – Castle Drogo
Where dramatic architecture meets innovative family home.
Castle Drogo is a remarkable 20th-century castle near Drewsteignton, on the edge of Dartmoor National Park in Devon. Designed by the celebrated architect Sir Edwin Lutyens, it was commissioned in 1911 by Julius Drewe, a wealthy businessman who made his fortune through the Home and Colonial Stores grocery chain.
Drewe wanted to create a family home that looked like a medieval fortress. Built largely from local granite, Castle Drogo features imposing towers, battlements, thick walls and a working portcullis, while incorporating modern conveniences for its time.
Construction proved a lengthy undertaking, interrupted by the First World War, rising costs and other difficulties. The family moved into the unfinished castle in 1926, and the chapel was completed around 1930–31.
One of the castle’s most remarkable features is its history of water penetration. Its flat roofs and solid granite construction proved difficult to weatherproof, leading to a major £15.5 million conservation project completed by the National Trust in 2021.
The gardens offer attractive terraces and seasonal planting, while walking trails descend into the beautiful Teign Gorge. The castle passed to the National Trust in 1974 and remains an outstanding example of early 20th-century architecture.
Castle Drogo is often described as the last castle built in England, making it a fascinating for anyone interested in architecture, history and the Devon countryside.