[1] The house was built in the middle of the 19th century as a family home for John Tollemache, a wealthy Cheshire landowner, estate manager, and member of parliament.

From 1969 to 1980 the castle was leased by the 4th Lord Tollemache to George W. Barrett, and it again became a private residence and closed to the public.

Peckforton Castle was built between 1844 and 1850 for John Tollemache, the largest landowner in Cheshire at the time, who was described by William Ewart Gladstone as "the greatest estate manager of his day".

[3] The castle was built by Dean and Son of Leftwich, with Joseph Cookson of Tarporley acting as clerk of works.

[6] In 1851 The Illustrated London News said that it "seems to exhibit the peculiar beauties of Carnarvon Castle without its inconveniences" and in 1858 Sir George Gilbert Scott called it "the largest and most carefully and learnedly executed Gothic mansion of the present" and that it was "the very height of masquerading".

[5] It is regarded as "the last serious fortified home built in England" and "it was executed to the highest standards and is one of the great buildings of its age".

[8] A possible practical reason for building such a solid residence rather than an Italianate-style villa was to provide shelter from the adverse weather conditions which could affect the Cheshire plain.

[9] However Durdey comes to the conclusion that the decisive factors were to use his "vast inheritance" to provide himself with a house that was "impressive, dominant and suitable for Cheshire's greatest landowner".

The land falls steeply downwards to the north and the west of the castle, and the Sandstone Trail, a long-distance footpath, runs along the base of these slopes.

The ruins of Beeston Castle stand on a separate steeply sloping hill 0.75 miles (1 km) to the north.

To the west of the inner ward are the stables, the coach house, a rectangular bell tower and the kitchens and service area.

[1] The porch leads into the great hall which has a Minton tile floor and a large stone chimney piece.

The circular tower at the north-west corner contains the octagonal dining room with a Minton tile floor, two fireplaces, and a vault of eight radial ribs running to a central boss.

On the fifth floor of the circular tower is a room designed for playing rackets, which is approached by a stone spiral staircase.

Its plan consists of a two-bay nave, a south aisle, a vestry, and a narrower and lower single-bay chancel.

[14] In 1922 a large scheme of afforestation was started on the Peckforton Hills,[14] and the resulting woodland has been granted the status of a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

These include the Doctor Who serial The Time Warrior, broadcast in 1973–74,[17] and a 1991 movie of Robin Hood starring Patrick Bergin and Uma Thurman.