Gillette Castle

Project Overview & Specifications

  • Project Location:
    East Haddam, CT
  • Project Architect:
    Phase I: Roger S. Clarke, AIA; Phase II: N/A; Phase III: Barkin Andrade Architects P.C.
  • Owner:
    State of Connecticut
  • Completion Date:
    Phase I: August 2000; Phase II: November 2001; Phase III: February 2003
  • Cost Range:
    Phase I: $2,374,569; Phase II: $700,450; Phase III: $2,980,136
Gillette Castle is a 24-room medieval-style mansion that overlooks the Connecticut River in East Haddam, Connecticut. It took from 1914 to 1919 to build, and many local craftspeople several more years to finish. Unprecedented in its style, this elaborate castle was designed and owned by noted actor William H. Gillette, best known for his portrayal of the fictional detective Sherlock Holmes. Today, Gillette Castle is a public park owned by the State of Connecticut. Kronenberger & Sons completed an extensive interior and exterior restoration to both the mansion and grounds while bringing everything up to current building codes and safety standards. This included all masonry work on the castle, outbuildings, and retaining walls, structural work in the castle, building an exit staircase for museum traffic, recreating interior raffia wall dressings, and rebuilding the train station. Gillette Castle is #86002103 on the National Register of Historic Places.

Press Mentions

A Whimsical Castle is Brought Back To Life—in Connecticut

Author: Period Homes Magazine
10/1/2002

Budzinski restores the woodwork at Gillette Castle

Author: Betsy Wittemann, West Hartford Life
8/1/2002

Connecticut's Castle Redux

Author: Jim Shea, The Hartford Courant
6/16/2002

East Haddam neighbors get details from state on rehab of Gillette Castle

Author: John Christie, The Middletown Press
2/15/2001

Gillette Case Intrigues Renovators

Author: The Hartford Courant
8/12/2001

Gillette Castle Closed Until Mid-2002

Author: Gary Libow, The Hartford Courant
3/27/2001

Here they come!

Author: The Middletown Press
2/9/2001

Kronenberger & Sons Turns Back the Clock on Historical Landmarks

Author: Professional Advantage, Vol. 2, No. 2
3/1/2001

Making Gillette Look Sharp

Author: Old-House Journal
9/1/2002

Open House: Gillette Castle

Author: Old-House Interiors Magazine
8/1/2002

Refurbished, Expanded Gillette Castle Unveiled in Time for Memorial Day Visitors

Author: Stephen Mordenti, The Sunday Republican
5/19/2002

Reviving Neglected State Parks

Author: Michael Greenwood, The Hartford Courant
3/19/2000

Sherlock's Home: Connecticut's most unusual mansion gets a full makeover

Author: K. Lee Howard, Connecticut Magazine
5/1/2002

The old will be mixed with the new, when Gillette Castle opens in 2002

Author: John Christie, The Middletown Press
2/9/2001

Visitors flock to Gillette's Castle

Author: Author: John Christie, The Middletown Press
5/28/2002

Water-Damaged Castle

Author: Gary Libow, The Hartford Courant
9/7/1998

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