Dinton Castle

Dinton Castle stands in open countryside just north of Dinton village in Buckinghamshire. Built in 1769 by Sir John Vanhatten as an eyecatcher from Dinton Hall, it is an octagonal folly with two circular towers. The limestone walls once displayed his collection of fossils and ammonites. Local legend links the site to a 17th-century hermit, John Bigg, said to have lived in a cave nearby. Archaeologists have also found Saxon burial remains beside the structure. For much of the 19th century it may have served as servants’ quarters or a temporary meeting place for non-conformists. The castle was added to the Heritage at Risk Register in the late 20th century after decades of neglect. A 2009 stabilisation project repaired lintels, windows and the entrance arch. In 2016 the property was bought by architect Jaime Fernandez and his wife Mimi, who grew up nearby. Their 2017–2018 renovation transformed the ruin into a two-bedroom home, featured on Grand Designs and in the Wall Street Journal. Visitors now find three quirky octagonal floors rising over almost an acre of Waddesdon Estate countryside. The sitting room, two en-suite bedrooms and ground-floor kitchen occupy the restored interior. A panoramic roof terrace offers sweeping views across the estate. The castle has since been used as a short-term rental, letting guests experience its unusual spaces.