Clearwell Castle
Encyclopedia
Clearwell Castle is a mock Gothic
mansion located in Clearwell
, Gloucestershire
. First known as Clearwell Court, it was built for Thomas Wyndham in 1728 to replace an older house which occupied same site. Its name was changed to Clearwell Castle in 1908.
The building was constructed of local stone in Gothic style with battlements. It has an imposing gateway formed by two three-storey towers.
For a time after 1947 it lay empty and deserted but in 1953 it was bought and restored by the son of the former estate under-gardener, Frank Yeates.
Frank sold his bakery business in Blackpool and along with his wife, Alice, and two sons, Graham and Bernard worked quietly and tirelessly to restore the Castle room by room to its former glory until his death in 1973. Friends and relatives would spend their spare time and holidays helping the family work on the Castle. ("Clearwell Castle - a Family Affair" Cathryn Yeates 1987)
In the 1970s Clearwell Castle was used regularly as a rehearsal and recording studio by bands including Led Zeppelin
, Black Sabbath
, Deep Purple
, Sweet
, Mott the Hoople
and Bad Company
. Deep Purple wrote their album Burn there in 1973. Peter Frampton
recorded his 1975 album "Frampton" there. Led Zeppelin composed and rehearsed some of their album In Through the Out Door
there in 1978. Black Sabbath came to the castle in 1973 seeking inspiration after a series of fruitless writing sessions in California
. The band found what they were looking for (including "the riff that saved Black Sabbath") in an underground recording studio built by the Yeates family there, writing the critically acclaimed album Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
.
Clearwell Castle is now a wedding venue.
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
mansion located in Clearwell
Clearwell
Clearwell is an ancient village in the Forest of Dean, west Gloucestershire, England. A recent survey indicated that the population of Clearwell is approximately 350....
, Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
. First known as Clearwell Court, it was built for Thomas Wyndham in 1728 to replace an older house which occupied same site. Its name was changed to Clearwell Castle in 1908.
The building was constructed of local stone in Gothic style with battlements. It has an imposing gateway formed by two three-storey towers.
For a time after 1947 it lay empty and deserted but in 1953 it was bought and restored by the son of the former estate under-gardener, Frank Yeates.
Frank sold his bakery business in Blackpool and along with his wife, Alice, and two sons, Graham and Bernard worked quietly and tirelessly to restore the Castle room by room to its former glory until his death in 1973. Friends and relatives would spend their spare time and holidays helping the family work on the Castle. ("Clearwell Castle - a Family Affair" Cathryn Yeates 1987)
In the 1970s Clearwell Castle was used regularly as a rehearsal and recording studio by bands including Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin
Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...
, Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath
Black Sabbath are an English heavy metal band, formed in Aston, Birmingham in 1969 by Ozzy Osbourne , Tony Iommi , Geezer Butler , and Bill Ward . The band has since experienced multiple line-up changes, with Tony Iommi the only constant presence in the band through the years. A total of 22...
, Deep Purple
Deep Purple
Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...
, Sweet
Sweet (band)
Sweet was a British rock band that rose to worldwide fame in the 1970s as one of the most prominent glam rock acts, with the classic line-up of lead vocalist Brian Connolly, bass player Steve Priest, guitarist Andy Scott, and drummer Mick Tucker.Sweet was formed in 1968 and achieved their first...
, Mott the Hoople
Mott the Hoople
Mott the Hoople were a British rock band with strong R&B roots, popular in the glam rock era of the early to mid 1970s. They are popularly known for the song "All the Young Dudes", written for them by David Bowie and appearing on their 1972 album of the same name.-The early years:Mott The Hoople...
and Bad Company
Bad Company
Bad Company were an English rock supergroup founded in 1973, consisting of two former Free band members — singer Paul Rodgers and drummer Simon Kirke — as well as Mott the Hoople guitarist Mick Ralphs and King Crimson bassist Boz Burrell. Peter Grant, who, in years prior, was a key component of...
. Deep Purple wrote their album Burn there in 1973. Peter Frampton
Peter Frampton
Peter Kenneth Frampton is an English musician, singer, producer, guitarist and multi-instrumentalist. He was previously associated with the bands Humble Pie and The Herd. Frampton's international breakthrough album was his live release, Frampton Comes Alive!. The album sold over 6 million copies...
recorded his 1975 album "Frampton" there. Led Zeppelin composed and rehearsed some of their album In Through the Out Door
In Through the Out Door
In Through the Out Door is the eighth studio album by the English rock band Led Zeppelin. It was recorded over a three week period in November and December 1978 at ABBA's Polar Studios in Stockholm, Sweden, and released by Swan Song Records on 15 August 1979...
there in 1978. Black Sabbath came to the castle in 1973 seeking inspiration after a series of fruitless writing sessions in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. The band found what they were looking for (including "the riff that saved Black Sabbath") in an underground recording studio built by the Yeates family there, writing the critically acclaimed album Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath
Sabbath Bloody Sabbath is the fifth studio album by the British heavy metal band Black Sabbath, released in December 1973. With this album, the band expanded upon their slow, crunching style of music by strings, keyboards and more complex orchestral arrangements.-Recording:Following the 1972–1973...
.
Clearwell Castle is now a wedding venue.