It is built of gritstone from a local quarry which was pulled up the 200-metre (660 ft) hill by a series of pulleys.

[4] While he enjoyed his time at the school, the building's architecture had lesser appeal; he described the castle as "an object of indecipherable bastardy – a true monster".

[5] With the coming of World War II the Ministry of Defence used the site for food storage.

[9] Completion of the castle renovation is planned for the autumn of 2024 and apartments have been listed for sale.

[10][11] The castle and the town of Matlock are key locations in the Shane Meadows film Dead Man's Shoes.