East Cowes Castle, located in East Cowes, was the home of architect John Nash between its completion and his death in 1835. Nash himself was the designer of the site, and began construction as early as 1798. He was interred on the grounds.
The structure gained renown for its complex castellation, its gothic-style turrets and towers, and for the notable individuals who came to be Nash’s guests there, including the Prince Regent and J.M.W. Turner, who painted a picture of the location.
On Nash’s death, the estate was sold to the Earl of Shannon who added a lodge at the south of the estate. On the Earl’s death in 1846 the property was sold. Its last resident, the World War II commander Field Marshal John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort purchased the estate in 1902. The first Viscount Gort had years before been impressed by the castle and had commissioned Lough Cutra Castle in Ireland to a similar design by Nash.
The castle was lent to the British Army during the Second World War, under whose use the condition of the building suffered greatly; and due to subsequent neglect and deterioration, the castle was finally demolished in 1960. John Nash’s original North Lodge and an original icehouse survive and the castle’s clock remains on display at the Carisbrooke Castle Museum.