Riber Castle Explained

Riber Castle
Location Town:Matlock, Derbyshire
Location Country:England
Map Type:Derbyshire
Coordinates:53.1278°N -1.543°W
Completion Date:1862
Style:Gothic Revival
Client:John Smedley

Riber Castle is a 19th-century Grade II listed country house in the hamlet of Riber on a hill overlooking Matlock, Derbyshire. It is built of gritstone from a local quarry which was pulled up the 200m (700feet) hill by a series of pulleys.

History

Known locally as "Smedley's Folly" because of the difficulty of getting water to the hill summit, it was built by the industrialist John Smedley in 1862 as his private home.[1] After Smedley’s death in 1874, his widow lived at the castle until her death in 1892.[2] The castle then became a boys' prep school until this became financially unviable in the 1930s. The architectural historian John Summerson attended the school in the early 20th century.[3] While he enjoyed his time at the school, the building's architecture had lesser appeal; he described the castle as "an object of indecipherable bastardy – a true monster". With the coming of World War II the Ministry of Defence used the site for food storage.[4] The MoD left following the war and the castle remained unused until the 1960s.

From the 1960s to September 2000 it was home to a wildlife park, containing British and European fauna. The late 20th century saw increasing criticism of the treatment of animals at the zoo and it closed in 2000.

Plans to turn the shell of the castle into apartments repeatedly failed in the 21st century.[5] [6] However, in 2023, conversion work on the castle began, with plans for enabling development in the grounds.[7] Completion of the castle renovation is planned for the autumn of 2024 and apartments have been listed for sale.[8] [9]

In popular culture

The castle and the town of Matlock are key locations in the Shane Meadows film Dead Man's Shoes.[10]

See also

Sources

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Riber Castle . Derbyshire Guide . 25 July 2016.
  2. Web site: Riber Castle – Urban Desertion . Urban Desertion . 1 June 2007 . https://web.archive.org/web/20060502111635/http://urbandesertion.squarespace.com/riber-castle/ . 2 May 2006.
  3. Web site: John Summerson: Historian – Blue Plaques. English Heritage. 29 June 2020.
  4. News: Riber Castle: Empty Gothic castle turned into flats . 12 March 2016 . BBC News . 25 July 2016.
  5. Web site: Riber Castle: Empty Gothic castle turned into flats. BBC News. 12 March 2016. 25 October 2023.
  6. Web site: From brooding landmark to des res with a view, castle is coming to life . Derby Telegraph . 2 January 2013 . Z. . Hawley . 25 July 2016 .
  7. Web site: Riber Castle: Homes to be built in 'iconic' Matlock castle's grounds and outbuildings. Eddie. Bisknell. Derby Telegraph. 12 October 2023. 25 October 2023.
  8. Web site: Property for sale in Chesterfield. Dales & Peaks . 31 July 2024.
  9. Web site: 20 July 2024. Riber Castle, Riber, Matlock, Derbyshire. Savills . 31 July 2024.
  10. Web site: Dead Man's Shoes (2004): Filming Locations . IMDb . 25 July 2016.