El Highcliffe Castle is situated on the cliffs of Highcliffe, on the outskirts of the County town of Christchrch Hampshire.
The story relates that it was built between 1831 and 1835 by Charles Stuart, 1st Baron Stuart of Rothesay in a Neo-Gothic style on the site of the High Cliff House, a Georgian mansion designed for the 3rd Earl of Bute (one of the founders of the Kew Gardens) with the gardens established by Capability Brown.
All that remains of the original High Cliff are the two entry cottages, now used as a restaurant, also some of the garden walls and land features. Sir Charles Stuart's son, also Charles Stuart, decided to buy his grandfather's estates and build a new house there. In 1828 Sir Charles Stuart became Lord Stuart of Rothesay.
The castle is built on an L-shaped plan, oriented on a south-east axis, so the lookout is central in the southeast elevation, providing a view across the gardens to a panorama of the spiers and the Island. by Wight. The house remained in the family until 1950, when much of the estate was sold and eventually developed up to the castle walls.
For a time from 1950 to 1953 the castle was a children's home before being sold to Claretian missionary parents first, then to a novitiate for use as a seminary. The castle was put up for sale in 1966, after many years of uncertainty and the abandoned castle was restored over time.
The present castle is a former building that now belongs to the Christchurch Council and is described as "the most important remaining example of the romantic and picturesque style of architecture." There it holds events open to the general public throughout the year open, and can be used for weddings and other private events.