EUC Exeter Branch: Castle Drogo Talk

Castle Drogo is a Grade 1 listed country house near Drewsteighton on a hill overlooking the Teign Valley. It was built between 1910 and 1928. This long duration was due to the interruption caused by the First World War when so many of the men employed left to serve. Unfortunately, a considerable number of them fell. The house was built for Julius Drew, the founder of the Home and Colonial Stores and designed by architect Edwin Lutyens. It is the last castle to be built in England and probably the last building constructed entirely of granite. Due to the insistence of Julius Drew methods were employed (such as the use of cement instead of lime based mortar and a flat roof) that have caused the ingress of water. This occurred very early on in the life of the building. Each of the granite blocks being removed in the course of the renovation has to be marked and its position recorded. The fact that each granite block is unique requires that it be replaced exactly in its original position!

Note: The time and venue for this event are still to be confirmed. To register your place on this talk, please contact Peter Wingfield-Digby using the details at the bottom of this page by Tuesday 6 May.

The EUC is a friendly club for alumni, graduates and retired staff of Exeter University and their families. As well as those who have studied or worked on the Streatham Campus, this also includes St Luke’s and the Tremough Campus, the former Camborne School of Mines, the Medical School and the (pre 1955) University College of the South West of England.

Further details of forthcoming Exeter Branch events can be found on the branch's website. To find out about membership and joining the club, please contact the Secretary, Mike Aspray at eucexeterbranch@gmail.com.