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	This Grade II folly looks like a Norman castle. In fact, it started life in the early 19th century as a farmhouse and barn for breeding shire horses. These were converted into a castle by the Shaw family in about 1860. But they never lived there; they simply wanted to create a view and being the owners of one of the biggest woollen mills in Yorkshire, they could afford to indulge their fantasies. A local historian says: "They wanted a romantic castle in their view, something they could see from their own large house, so they built this. It was a very romantic idea. I suspect they got the idea from castles they had seen on the grand tour of Europe that many wealthy Victorians did." The castle boasts battlements, towers with arrow slit windows and arch headed windows. The cottage next to the castle was used by the farm manager but over the years the properties gradually fell into disrepair. The buildings were bought and partially modernised in 1964, before being sold to the Crowthers, who have made the castle into an idyllic family home. The ruins of a mill stand in the nine-acre grounds and there is also a working water wheel. Mr Crowther said at the time of selling the castle, "I've had lots of comments about the place, the one I've heard most is 'an Englishman's home is his castle'. The property is very romantic looking and unique. I like it because of the quietness. It is a very tranquil place, hidden away in a wooded valley. It's a lovely family home, but the children are grown up and we are rattling around in it now, which is why we have decided to sell." The castle was bought by Terry George and Michael Rothwell in 2002 and they have since spent, along with the help of Interior Designer Ben Huckerby, almost £1 million modernising it. The four years of renovations have included converting the old stable block into a indoor, heated swimming pool and restoring as many of the castle's original features as possible. It's incredible to think that many of the arrow slits had been plastered over, the grounds left to become overgrown and the lake turn into a weed filled bog.