Official Sydney and Area Projects Thread

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Monday, June 18, 2007 Cape Breton Post

OK, it's not development, but it is a big part of the city's history.

Moxham Castle didn't have a knight in shining armour to come to the rescue

Section: Northside/Victoria

Column: Breton Rannie Gillis

By Breton Rannie Gillis,
Both Moxham Castle in Sydney and Kinloch Castle on the Isle of Rhum were among the last structures of their kind in the world. However, although both are fondly remembered, more than 100 years later their final fate could not have been more different.

The derelict ruin that was Moxham Castle was destroyed by fire back in 1966 and there is still some dispute as to whether or not the fire was accidental or deliberately set. Kinloch Castle, however, is still going strong, although its future prospects are still very much up in the air.

When Sir George Bullough died in 1937, while playing golf in France, his wealthy widow continued to return to the Isle of Rhum each summer for the next 20 years. However, in 1957, at the advanced age of 88, Lady Monica decided to sell the island to the Scottish Natural Heritage Society, with the stipulation that it would be preserved forever as the Scottish equivalent of a Canadian National Park. She and her family would retain visitation rights. When Lady Monica died in 1967, at the grand old age of 98, her body was returned to the Isle of Rhum and buried next to her husband and father-in-law, in a lonely glen on the west side of the island.

Today, the Isle of Rhum is a National Park and Nature Reserve. However, the last 100 years have taken their physical toll on Kinloch Castle and the ongoing cost of maintenance and repair is proving to be too much for the National Park System. At the present time the castle is used as a hostel, for tourists and mountain climbers, and the historic building also functions as a living Victorian era museum.

Kinloch Castle is now 105 years old and major repair work is urgently needed, especially on the plumbing and electrical systems. The estimated cost to bring the castle up to today's standards is in the vicinity of $10 million. Where will the money come from?

Four years ago BBC television had a very successful program called The Restoration Series. These shows profiled historic buildings in the United Kingdom that were in need of renovation and repair. The public was invited to nominate their choice to receive the top prize of $6 million, provided by the national lottery corporation.

Unfortunately, Kinloch Castle came in second and did not receive any funds. However, the plight of this magnificent building and its remote location on an island in the Hebrides, struck a responsive chord with members of the public in both England and Scotland.

One such person, who was intrigued by the castle story, was his Royal Highness, Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales! He has since taken an active interest in the future of Kinloch Castle and has lent his name and prestige to a special trust fund that has been set up to look at ways of preserving the castle.

Our own Moxham Castle, however, had no royal prince to come to the rescue. Thanks to a monumental lack of interest and foresight, our community allowed a very unique building to fall into decay and burn to the ground. It was a sad and humiliating end to one of the most remarkable examples of 19th century Canadian architecture!