Entering This Hidden New Hampshire Castle Will Make You Feel Like You're In A Fairy Tale
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Kelly A. Burch
Author
New Hampshire isn’t known for architecture, so most residents don’t know that there is a stunning castle nestles in the southern woods of the state. Searles Castle in Windham is an amazing full-sized replica of an English Castle, that is sure to take your breath away. However, this amazing building becomes even more stunning when you learn its unique history:
An authentic Tudor Castle isn't what you expect to find driving along the wooded roads of Windham, but that's just what you get at Searles Castles. This unique piece of architecture is a little slice of fairy tale magic right here in New Hampshire.
Seamless Castle has an interesting history. It was built by Edward Searles, who was born a poor mill worker in Methuen, Massachusetts. Searles worked his way up and became an interior designed with a prestigious New York firm. It was there that he met the woman who would change his life.
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Searles met Mary Hopkins, the widow of a railroad owner. Mary's husband had left her a fortune of fairy-tale proportions upon his death: $61 Million in 1878. When Searles married Mary ten years after her husband's death, he was 47-years-old and his bride was about to turn 67.
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Searles became involved in building projects after Mary's death in 1891. His most magnificent project still stands in Wyndham today, the product of a $1.25 million construction project.
When Searles died in 1920, he left the Wyndham Castle to his secretary, Arther Walker. Walker left it to his siblings, who sold the castle. The amazing building changed hands many times, before it was sold to the Sisters of Mercy.
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The nuns used the house to teach new women entering the order. For twenty-five years the 20 rooms of the castle were used by the order. However, the castle fell into disrepair, and in the late 1990s the nuns moved into another property on the sprawling estate so that the castle could be repaired.
The results were breathtaking. After the castle was refurbished the nuns contracted a local couple to coordinate events at Searles Castle.
Today, the beautiful Searles Castle campus is a popular wedding venue.
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The amazing grounds and stunning castle make visitors feel as it they have been transported straight into their very own fairy tale. Knowing the history of this unique piece of New Hampshire architecture just makes it even more interesting!
Have you visited this hidden New Hampshire castle?
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