Grey Towers Castle – Glenside, Pennsylvania - Atlas Obscura
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Grey Towers Castle

Glenside, Pennsylvania

Designed by Horace Trumbauer in 1893, this Gothic-style castle is now a home for academics. 

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The south side of the castle. Shuvaev (Creative Commons)
The south side of the castle. Shuvaev (Creative Commons)
Grey Towers Castle (Creative Commons)
Grey Towers Castle Shuvaev (Creative Commons)
The north side of the castle. Shuvaev (Creative Commons)
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Grey Towers Castle, located in Glenside, Pennsylvania was inspired by Alnwick Castle in England. The castle was constructed by notable architect Horace Trumbauer in 1893 for the estate of William Welsh Harrison and his family. Trumbauer also added a gatehouse and stables to the property for the family. The facade of the castle is decorated with gargoyles and other staples of Gothic architecture.

The interior of the home was inspired by French aesthetics, particularly the French Renaissance era. Within the castle, there are numerous architectural delights, such as Renaissance-inspired painted ceilings in the Rose and Mirror rooms, a tapestry of Euterpe in the music room, graved woodwork depicting Mr. William Harrison by the grand staircase, and a gilded ceiling. 

Today, the castle hosts the Arcadia University Offices of Admissions, Enrollment Management, and Financial Aid, and the Office of the President. Additionally, students live in dorms on the second and third floors. Community events are also hosted inside the castle throughout the year and can be booked through the university. 

Know Before You Go

For a guided tour of the castle, contact the university's Society for Castle Restoration, a club for students which hosts informative tours to curious visitors. During October, the Society for Castle Restoration also hosts ghost tours throughout the castle and around the surrounding buildings. 

universities castles history & culture architecture
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June 8, 2021
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