Muncaster Castle - Ravenglass, Cumbria (Pvt)
A family home from 1208 to present day, Muncaster is a treasury of antique furniture, paintings and silver. A tape-tour of the Castle is provided by the owner, giving a very personal and informative tour.
In 1862 the fashionable architect Anthony Salvin was engaged by the fourth Lord Muncaster to rebuild the house. Salvin took the courtyard, built by the first Lord Muncaster, and converted it into the present drawing room. The pele tower at the SW end, which stands on Roman foundations, was matched by Salvin with the NW tower.
During the Second World War evacuated art from the Tate Gallery, including paintings by Rossetti, Turner and Blake, were stored here. The week before the outbreak of war Muncaster was warned to prepare for evacuees, not knowing, however, that these evacuees were British art!
The woodland gardens boast many rare and exotic plants and command spectacular views of the Lakeland Fells. The World Owl Trust has its headquarters at Muncaster Castle and holds one of the finest owl collections.
At 2.30pm each day, 29 March to 1st November a display and talk is given in the Castle garden. Most of the owls have been rescued from ill treatment so are technically in rehabilitation, therefore, the display is somewhat different to the traditional "falconry displays" seen up and down the country.