Castle in the Clouds

The weather was predicted to be cloudy and with a chance of a shower. Not an ideal beach day. We decided to take a trip North to Moultonborough, New Hampshire to visit Castle in the Clouds, the Lucknow Mansion.

After a harrowing ride up a twisting, turning mountain road because Waze decided we needed a heart attack of a ride. (The road reminded us of "Mrs. Todd's Shortcut". If your school or library hasn't banned or burned Stephen King books, you can find the short story in King's Skeleton Crew) we found ourselves in the relative safety of a parking lot with signage directing us to the Carriage House (gift shop) where we could purchase tickets. After getting tickets and donning a sticker, we were directed to wait

for the trolley which would take us up to the house.

The views of Lake Winnipesauke and the mountains were just spectacular

You can take a self-guided tour of the house which began in a sunroom where we watched a short video about the history of the house and owners. I was charmed by the adorable bunny doorstop.

The house is named Lucknow. "Originally comprised of 6,300 acres, the property featured a 16-room mansion, stable and garage, two gatehouses, a 100 foot greenhouse, farm buildings, an 18-hole golf course, tennis court, a man-mad lake, and 45 miles of carriage and bridle paths."

The architecture belongs to the Arts and Crafts movement. "Though its construction employed modern materials like steel beam and terra cotta blocks, the exterior was veneered with hand-cut stone and adorned with hand-scalloped oak timber framing. - the house was intended to fit naturally and comfortably into the landscape." (from the brochure)

awesome front door

The house was built in 1914 and was the home of Thomas and Olive Plant. Plant's story was rags to riches rising "from factory laborer to proprietor of the Thomas G. Plant Shoe Company by the age of 32. By his retirement in 1910, his shoe factory was the largest in the world." (from the brochure)

State of the art appliances and technologies are seen throughout the house. At first we thought this was a dumb waiter and then realized it was a refrigerator and freezer. Not an icebox! The cooling system for the units was ammonia brine refrigeration system. The house was also equipped with a central vacuuming and intercom system.

At the time the house was built and lived in, the couple was very wealthy. Unlike the mansions in Newport, Rhode Island with their  flamboyant opulence, Lucknow was a tastefully decorated home. However poor budgeting and over spending collecting object d'art plunged the Plants into financial difficulties. A friend of theirs bought the house and allowed them to live in it until Thomas' death in 1941. The house was sold and Olive moved back to Illinois to her family. 

Fountain in the "backyard"

While the furnishings inside the mansion were beautiful to look at, the real jewel was the magnificent views of the lake and mountains. As you can see, the weather dudes lied and the weather cleared to another fine day.

This torture device isn't an Iron Maiden, but something called a needle shower. Showers were for the men only as it was believed women were too delicate to withstand the shower. On the other hand, I don't think I would like sharp jets of water blasting my kidneys.

Overlooking the front drive 

This was my favorite wallpaper in the house

It was used as a maid's room for helping repair madame's frocks

or a sewing room. My mother would have loved this room.

her writing desk

tea service

Another spectacular view

A covered walkway from the house

leads to a pergola

With squirrels carved on it. The squirrels had been lost, but restored last year.

After touring the house we caught the trolley to go back to the Carriage House (gift shop) and parking lot. Doesn't the trolley look like Mr. Roger's Trolley? From the parking lot, Waze graciously found the main exit so we didn't have to go through Mrs. Todd's shortcut again.