About the Craigdarroch Castle Architecture

In the 1880′s and 90′s architects of the time were being influenced by a Romanesque revival that was underway.

 

Leading the charge was American architect H.H. Richardson. What later became known as the “Richardsonian Romanesque” style can be seen throughout Craigdarroch Castle’s construction.

 

This very free, revival style incorporates 11th and 12th century southern French, Spanish and Italian Romanesque characteristics. It emphasizes clear, strong picturesque massing, round-headed “Romanesque” arches, often springing from clusters of short squat columns, recessed entrances, richly varied rustication, boldly blank stretches of walling contrasting with bands of windows, and cylindrical towers with conical caps embedded in the walling.

 

This style of building also imposed a great burden on the interior where close attention to detail was required in order to minimize the foreboding effects of the substantial construction. The Castle’s interior white oak panelling was fabricated by the A.H. Andrews Co. of Chicago. Their attention to detail gives the interior of Craigdarroch a warmth throughout and many of the rooms incorporate exotic woods such as walnut, jarra, rosewood, maple, holly, and oak.

 

Craigdarroch Castle also boasts some of the finest residential stained and leaded glass in North America. There are 33 original stained glass windows to see in the home and postcards of them are available in the Museum Gift Shop.