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Click to view map Coordinates: | "It's a landmark of Deneysville. Built in 1963 by Alfred Sumner, who decided on the style because he had lived near Windsor Castle. That is what the sources say, but I can't find any similarities between this castle and Windsor Castle. "It was designed as a unique restaurant to seat 400 people inside and outside including a roof beer-garden. It also housed the unique Alfred Sumner collection of medieval weapons and shields. During its time it was very popular and attracted the crowds mostly during the weekend for a reasonably priced meal. In 1985 there was calamity, during a night the castle got torched by an unknown arsonist. The evening before there was some trouble between the manager and a young visitor, the source calls it a 'sharp altercation' and the visitor was thrown out. It is suspected that the fire was initiated by that person, but nothing could be proved. "The fire damaged ruin stood empty after that, rebuilding was considered to be too expensive because of the heat damaged re-enforced concrete. That was the situation in 2001 when the article, used as a source document, was written by Gordon Young. During a recent visit, January 2019, I did not see any fire damage and it looks like the place has only recently been vacated." (Rural & Urban Exploration, accessed 2022 06 22) ___________________________ Deneysville Kasteel Nogal gebou deur 'n Lord Deneysville is 'n klein oorddorpie aan die walle van die Vaaldam. Gestig in 1930 op die plase Wilhelmina en Witpoort. Die dorp is vernoem na Deneys Reitz, Minister van Lande ten tyde van die bou van die Vaaldam. KASTEEL Die kasteel is gebou in 1963 op 'n 2.5 hektaar plot wat grens aan die Vaaldam. Lord Alfred Summer was so beîndruk met die rustigheid en kalmte van Deneysville en die uitgestrekte Vaaldam daarnaas dat hy hier 'n kasteel laat bou het. 'n Kasteel ter wille van nostalgie as hy dink aan sy land van herkoms, Engeland , en die pragtige kastele daar soos bv die Windsor Castle. Hy noem die kasteel Castle Marina en vestig 'n unieke restaurant wat sowat 400 gaste binne en buite kon hanteer. Op die dak 'n gesellige biertuin wat oor die Vaaldam uitkyk. Hierdie restaurant was gou 'n gewilde bymekaarkomplek vir mense en etes was uit die boonste rakke.16mm Filmvertonings lok ook besoekers van heinde en verre. Die kasteel het ook 'n uitsonderlike versameling middeleeuse wapens en skilde gehuisves, die Alfred Summer's Collection. Groot onthale en funksies word in die kasteel gehou en 'n kapel word gebou om troues ook te akkomodeer. BRAND Ongelukkig word die kasteel opsetlik aan die brand gesteek in 1985 en die hitte veroorsaak groot skade. Vermoedelik is die brand gestig deur 'n moeilike kliënt wat die vorige dag uit die kasteel verwyder is agv wangedrag. Dit kon ongelukkig ook nooit bewys word nie. Die kasteel verval in onbruik en word verlate en geplunder. Gerugte van spoke ontstaan. Vroeg in 2000 word pogings onsuksesvol aangewend om kasteel te restoureer. Daarna word die kasteel weer verlate. 2013 sterf die eienaar van die kasteel en vir 'n paar jaar is gebou nog steeds verlate. 2019 word die kasteel en omringende oewererwe per veiling verkoop en begin ontwikkeling. Tans is gebou omhein en terrein is versorg. Vermoedelik sal kasteel nou weer herstel en bewaar word as bekende landmerk in Deneysville. Bronne: Deneysville News 2001 Sunday Times Fotos: Facebook Gys Ströh snr 2021 (Submitted by Annelise Lange from Facebook) |