Setting out in the bitter cold today, I fought against the biting wind and frozen footpaths with the sole purpose of fulfilling a long-held ambition to not only see but also photograph Alton Castle in the snow. Perched high on the rocks of the Churnet Valley, I have always found the castle to be one of Pugin’s most captivating buildings. In fact, when I first moved to Alton at the beginning of 2021 and the nights were still drawn in, I would wander down the bank to just look back up at the Castle illuminated against the starry sky. With its fairy-tale turrets and romantic facades, it’s easy to understand how it gave rise to the valley’s nickname of Little Switzerland. In the daylight the castle is enchanting but, in the moonlight, it becomes ethereal.
Examples of Pugin’s work can be found in abundance throughout the village and whilst buildings such as Station Lodge and the castle are well known there are also many other less obvious elements. These are what I like to think of as the real hidden gems of the village, little secrets that are a joy to discover. For example, I remember my excitement on learning that the finely carved wooden panelling which encases the organ at St Peter’s had once adorned the walls of the Towers grand banqueting hall.
In the time I have been a resident, rather than a regular visitor, in Alton I have become profoundly aware of how Pugin's work and legacy has become an integral part of the village and helps bring the community together. Covid may have delayed the Castle’s annual garden party over the summer, but it couldn’t stop the villagers from reuniting later in the year and enjoying a whole host of festivities in the surrounding grounds. As well as tours inside the castle, access to the roof was made available for the first time where guests were treated to unprecedented and up-close views of the stunning snakeskin tiled roof. In November the castle also provided the perfect vantage point to watch three consecutive nights of firework displays at nearby Alton Towers. It was a truly spectacular sight and something I shall now very much look forward to every year.
And so, as I finally take that much anticipated shot of the castle, its rooftops dusted in snow, I stop and pray that I never take any of this for granted nor fail to appreciate the beauty and wonder I have on my doorstep. I want to smile every time I walk down the steps from my house and see the castle beyond the high street and remember how very lucky I am to call this fair Pugin land my home.
Article first published in the Pugin Society's annual newsletter, Present State in 202
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