Regency History’s guide to Lulworth Castle
The early history of Lulworth Castle
Lulworth Castle (2012)
Lulworth Castle was built as a hunting lodge at the beginning of the 17th century in Lulworth, Dorset, by Thomas Howard, Viscount Bindon. It was purchased by Humphrey Weld in 1641 and has belonged to the Weld family ever since. The Castle has played host to Kings—both James I and Charles II stayed there.
Lulworth Castle and Mrs Fitzherbert
Mrs Fitzherbert from Memoirs of George IV by Robert Huish (1831)
Edward Weld inherited the Castle from his father in 1761. His first wife died without giving him an heir and in 1775, he married the beautiful Mary-Anne Smythe. Tragically, Edward died a few months later following a fall from his horse.
Mary-Anne, known as Maria, then married Thomas Fitzherbert, and on his death, she became the secret wife of the future George IV.
Thomas Weld and St Mary’s Chapel
St Mary's Chapel, Lulworth Castle (2012)
On Edward’s death, Lulworth Castle passed to his brother, Thomas, who rebuilt much of the Castle’s interior in the Neoclassical style. The Welds were devout Roman Catholics and Thomas was influential in promoting Catholic emancipation and helping Catholics fleeing from the French Revolution.
According to family tradition, George III gave permission to Thomas Weld to build a mausoleum and furnish it inside as he wished. 1
The Chapel of St Mary’s was designed by John Tasker in 1786 to look like a classical garden building. It became the first free-standing Roman Catholic Church to be built for public worship in England since the Reformation.
George III’s visit to Lulworth Castle
In 1789, George III and Queen Charlotte visited Thomas Weld at Lulworth Castle whilst they were on holiday in Weymouth. They saw inside the Chapel and gave it their approval.
The royal connection continued when the Duke of Gloucester leased the Castle from Thomas’s son from 1824 to 1827.
Lulworth Castle today
Inside Lulworth Castle (2012)
The castle was gutted by fire in 1929 but has now been restored. It was visited by Queen Elizabeth II in 1984 and is now a family-friendly visitor attraction.
When we visited in 2012, it was possible to climb up one of the towers to the roof and enjoy stunning views out to sea.
View from the roof of Lulworth Castle (2012)
Rachel Knowles writes faith-based Regency romance and historical non-fiction. She has been sharing her research on this blog since 2011. Rachel lives in the beautiful Georgian seaside town of Weymouth, Dorset, on the south coast of England, with her husband, Andrew, who co-writes this blog.
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Note
Weld, Wilfrid, The Weld Family & Lulworth (Guidebook to Lulworth Castle)
Sources used include:
Chedzoy, Alan, Seaside Sovereign - King George III at Weymouth (The Dovecote Press, 2003, Wimborne)
Delamotte, Peter, The Weymouth Guide (1785, Weymouth)
Feltham, John, Editor of the Picture of London, A Guide to all the Watering and Sea-Bathing Places (1815)
Groves, E, The Weymouth and Melcombe Regis New Guide (E Groves, 1835, Weymouth)
Huish, Robert, Memoirs of George IV (Thomas Kelly, 1830, 1831, London)
Weld, Wilfrid, The Weld Family & Lulworth (Guidebook to Lulworth Castle purchased Aug 2012)
Photographs © Andrew Knowles and RegencyHistory
Last visited 2012 and last updated 6/4/26
