Five things to know about Dobroyd Castle in Todmorden

2nd March 2007.
English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund give grant to Losang Dragpa Buddhist Centre, Dobroyd Castle, Todmorden.
Pictured exterior of castle — 2nd March 2007. English Heritage and the Heritage Lottery Fund give grant to Losang Dragpa Buddhist Centre, Dobroyd Castle, Todmorden. Pictured exterior of castle

1. Dobroyd Castle is a grade II* listed building found high up in Todmorden moors. It has 66 rooms with 17 acres of land. It was built between 1866 and 1869.

2. The castle was once the home of a famous local millowner, John Fielden. It is rumoured that his wife agreed to marry him on the premise that he would build a castle.

3. The castle was more expensive to build than Todmorden Town Hall and Todmorden’s Unitarian Church - all buildings that commissioned architect John Gibson designed.

4. The Home Office used the castle between 1942 and 1979 as a place for teenage boys to learn manual skills like carpentry. It was also used later on for the privately run Castle School.

5. In 1995 the castle was used by Buddhists until 2007. The Losang Dragpa Centre was home to about 20 monks and nuns at any one time, offering many spiritual activities.

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