Dinton Castle

Dinton Castle is a ruinous sham castle or folly built in 1769 as an eyecatcher from the grounds of Dinton Hall for Sir John Vanhattern. It is constructed of rubblestone with stone string courses, and most openings feature cement architraves, except for the stone-dressed window opening above the entrance. The castle has an octagonal plan with circular towers at the east and west. It stands two storeys high, with the towers rising to three storeys. The south face of the octagon features a doorway in the remains of a porch, which has a depressed two-centred brick arch. The first floor has tall ogee-headed windows, and there are string courses between the storeys and at the base of the parapet, which is now mostly missing. The towers have strings between storeys and blank pointed-headed loop windows. The walls contain many ammonite fossils from the local limestone beds. The interior is brick-lined, with the west tower featuring fireplaces on each storey and the east tower containing a newel staircase.