Dudley Castle Dolls House found on Jo Seavers Pinterest board

Dudley Castle Replica, Without The Ghosts

History

Legend has it that a wooden stockade with earthen-work surrounds was constructed on the site in the 8th century by a Saxon lord named Dud. Historian say, “Nonsense,” claiming the castle was built soon after the Norman Conquest of 1066, which is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086, with no value mentioned.

In 1532 John Sutton, the seventh in the Sutton/Dudley dynasty named John, inherited the castle but was ousted by a relative, John Dudley, later the Duke of Northumberland. In an attempt to make the place more habitable, he started a major construction project around 1540, erecting new buildings within the castle walls. He needn’t have bothered. This John  Dudley was beheaded for his attempt to set his daughter-in-law, Lady Jane Grey, on the throne of England.

The castle became a Royalist stronghold during the English Civil War and was besieged twice before its surrender to Cromwell’s forces in 1646. Parliament subsequently ordered that the castle be partly demolished. The bulk of the remaining habitable parts of the castle were destroyed by fire in 1750.

Dudley Castle Lithograph found on Friends of Dudley Castle

The Dollhouse Auction

Following is the documentation included in an eBay auction, now ended. The opening bid was $4,900. I have attempted to contact the seller for the disposition of the auction, with no results.

“The Large Dollhouse Miniature Medieval Castle Custom Replica Dudley Castle England.

A wonderful gift for a young girl, boy or miniature enthusiast!

This unique dollhouse miniature medieval castle is a replica of the Dudley Castle that was originally built in 1530 but is now a ruined castle in the town of Dudley, West Midlands, England.

This replica castle was carefully constructed during a two-year period spanning 1997 through 1999, by a miniaturist in Tucson, Arizona. The castle is affixed by bolts and screws to wheeled tables that open up into 3 sections. The castle is made of wood that has been decorated with a light beige linoleum tile. Some of the tiles have come loose and will need to be reaffixed. The floors in the castle are covered in a wooden style linoleum in some rooms and a paper that has a stone pattern in others. There are tears on the paper where the miniatures that were once with the castle have been removed. The paper could be easily removed and replaced with something similar or the floors could be painted. The linoleum has come up in spots and could also easily be replaced. The watchtowers are hinged and can open up wide for an intimate view inside the castle. The measurements of the castle and table are  76″ long x 73″ wide x 58″ high.  As the castle is in 3 sections, one of its unique features is that it can be set up end to end to measure 15 feet long.

Included with this castle structure are all of the doors, drawbridges, crenellations, window shutters, built-in kitchen area – even a dungeon. We have most of the tiles that have fallen off the walls. This beautiful structure is currently in storage in Tucson, Arizona and is available for local pick up only.

Please view the images above and the film/slideshow that is below for more detail. [The links are broken]

This castle can be picked up in Tucson, Arizona. For shipment within the United States, please contact me for a freight quote. Feel free also to contact me with any questions.”

Gray Lady Ghost & Child Video – Dudley Castle

About Those Ghosts

Dudley Castle may not have been habitable by humans since 1750, but ghosts love it. No less than 3 spirit residents have been “documented.” Mike Chin has done a nice video which includes the reason 2 of the ghosts, Dorothy Beaumont and her infant daughter, might be annoyed enough to hang about the place for ten centuries or so.

Susan Downing, with Patrick Owens

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