Scouting, Volume 71, Number 4, September 1983 Page: 24
98, E1-E24, [16] p. : ill. ; 28 cm.View a full description of this periodical.
Extracted Text
The following text was automatically extracted from the image on this page using optical character recognition software:
MIXED
A MAN'S CASTLE
IS HIS HOME
By Bob Deindorfer
"It's no surprise
we're said to
have a ghost," says
Tony Tilley with a
soft smile. "After
all, what self-
respecting English
castle doesn't?"
Tony Tilley is an ebullient, dark-haired Scouter
in his early forties who enjoys the theater, art. and
sports. He loves walking the soft green English
countryside, loves watching a horse jump a dry
stone wall. He relishes his family and lives an
active social life.
The amiable. London-born Tilley is little dif-
ferent from other hard-working successes living in
the rural English Cotswolds, except for one thing.
He happens to operate one of the 30 most popular
castles still standing in the United Kingdom.
As the general manager of twelfth century
Sudeley Castle, at Winchcombe in Gloucester-
shire. almost 100 miles northwest of London, the
former Scout who now serves as a counselor,
frequently pauses to reflect on the virtues of his
business. In his opinion, it contributes to the
pleasure of thousands of visitors, including an
increasing number of Americans.
"It's a grand idea to open Sudeley to the
public." Tilley rifled a sheaf of papers in his
roomy office overlooking the moat pond. "Quite
apart from the commercial aspects, this allows
men. women, and children to view the magnificent
art. the unique furnishings, the antique flavor of a
building that reaches back over the ages."
Sudeley is small—small compared with many
other English castles, that is—with a total of 84
rooms built around inner and outer courtyards,
some of it fully restored, some still in ruins. For the
casual visitor, it's scaled to a comfortable size, less
challenging than Windsor and Edinburgh castles,
where customers sometimes wear themselves
down if they explore every feature.
"It was perfect for our family," Glen Phillips of
San Diego recalls. "The kids chased peacocks, or
vice versa, and romped in the playground, while
my wife and I toured the interior and saw some
original Rubenses, Turners, and Constables."
Yetat the time Sudeley first went public, in 1970,
certain refinements had to be added for the sake of
attracting visitors in sufficient numbers. Oh. the
dungeon, the towered chain gate, the moat pond,
the chapel, the adjoining tithe barn were already
in place, but any castle outfitted to draw a card
requires a number of other fixtures, too, as Tilley
has learned.
Up they went, one after the other, crowded into
the space on the ground floor of the weathered old
sightsee—a tea room, a restaurant, a novelty shop.
Soft drinks and ice creams were sold at kiosks on
the sweeping grounds, a playground with tree
climbs, roped obstacle courses, secret tunnels, a
small dungeon, and a whooping long slide were
built for the youngsters—including this one, I
might add—who had a great time of it on the slide.
In an effort to satisfy those who seek traditions
associated with castle lore. Tilley hit on several
synthetics. Probably the most successful event is a
series of annual medieval jousts, staged in appro-
priate costume, men mounted on horses fitted
with special padding, one of them enacting the
Black Knight, tilting at one another with long,
tipped lances.
"We make a special effort to draw Scout troops
for the jousts." Tilley reached into his desk for
some specimen photos. "They camp out on the
adjoining fields, furl their tents, prepare better
meals than I remember from my years as an active
Scout."
Just recently Sudeley began staging a reenact-
ment of the English Civil War. the Roundheads
versus the Cavaliers, with a cast of thousands
playing cavalrymen, musketeers, cannoneers, even
merchants and camp followers.
For visitors whose tastes run to more contem-
porary competitions, other special events have
been staged on the castle grounds: a hot-air
balloon show, a wedge of parachute jumpers
leaping out of the sky and trying to hit silver coins
piled in a heap, a dog show, pony competitions,
and a small rock group. If these and other features
offend some purists, they help keep the turnstiles
spinning, which is part of what Tilley describes as
"the castle trade."
Staff salaries for more than 80 gardeners, ven-
dors, tour guides, cooks, waitresses, ground-
keepers, ticket sellers, and other attendants, the
rising cost of heat and light, frequent restoration of
crumbling walls and sagging (continued on page 26)
24
September 1983 Scouting
Upcoming Pages
Here’s what’s next.
Search Inside
This issue can be searched. Note: Results may vary based on the legibility of text within the document.
Tools / Downloads
Get a copy of this page or view the extracted text.
Citing and Sharing
Basic information for referencing this web page. We also provide extended guidance on usage rights, references, copying or embedding.
Reference the current page of this Periodical.
Boy Scouts of America. Scouting, Volume 71, Number 4, September 1983, periodical, September 1983; Irving, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth353630/m1/26/: accessed April 25, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Boy Scouts of America National Scouting Museum.