History

Built in 1877 and occupying a wonderfully prominent position with glorious views, Beau Castle dates from the Arts and Craft period and was built in the Venetian Gothic style.

The Beau Castle estate was bought by a Birmingham industrialist, George Baker in 1875. As Mayor of Birmingham and Bewdley, Baker established the Guild of St. George, a charitable body which gifted parts of the estate to local families. 

The Castle itself was designed for a Quaker family by Baker, art critic John Ruskin and architect Richard Doubleday. In fact, the elaborate Alpine Oak balcony that runs around the rear of the house is said to be inspired by Ruskin’s Alpine travels. There are also extensive stained glass windows throughout the property created by Edward Byrne-Jones, the famous artist and Pre-Raphaelite.

The nearest town is Bewdley which has been described by Pevsner as the best preserved Georgian town in Worcestershire. It’s a beautiful location and even its name derives from 'beau lieu': Norman French for beautiful place. Bewdley has a rich and varied past too. For centuries, it was a busy, bustling river port connecting the Midlands and central Wales with the outside world via the River Severn.