Longford Castle

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Longford Castle located south of Salisbury, Wiltshire, England.

The manor, at the time written Langford, was in 1573 obtained by Thomas Gorges, of Langford. In c 1576 he married Helena Snakenborg, the dowager Marchioness of Northampton, queen's favoritesse. Helena persuaded Thomas Gorges to rebuild his property more appealing. The mansion had been damaged by fire when he acquired it and a replacement was completed at great expense by 1591, under the final supervision of John Thorpe. Longford was the model for the 'Castle of Amphialeus' in sir Philip Sidney's Arcadia.

The main building had several floors and its form was triangular, a round tower in each corner. There was a chapel, kitchen department, several boudoirs and sitting rooms, as well as bedrooms. Fresh cold water was pumped to various floors, and there were sort of water closets, operating with rainwater. Park and fruit garden and kitchen garden were attached.

The family lived at the place already several years before its final completions in 1591.

Longford Castle is the seat of the Earls of Radnor and is not open to the public.