page_title: Julius Drewe
section_title: Castle Drogo
hierarchical_section_title: Julius Drewe / Castle Drogo
caption_attribution_description: English: Photo of Castle Drogo, Devon
context_page_description: Julius Charles Hendicott Drewe was an English businessman, retailer and entrepreneur who founded Home and Colonial Stores, and who ordered the building of Castle Drogo in Devon.
context_section_description: Julius's first cousin was Richard Peek, the rector of Drewsteignton (named after Drogo de Teigne, alleged forefather of the Drewes). Julius stayed on several occasions with his cousin and it must have been here that he conceived the idea of building a castle on the home ground of his ancestor. He found an ideal site, and in 1910 he bought about 450 acres (1.8 km²) south and west of the village; by the time of his death he had bought up an estate of 1,500 acres.  He then went to Edwin Lutyens, a prominent architect of the time, and asked him to build his castle.  According to his son Basil, he did so on the advice of William Hudson, proprietor of Country Life, who was both a patron and a champion of Lutyens.  Drewe was now 54 years old, but he still had time, energy and money to create his new family seat. On 4 April 1911, Drewe's 55th birthday, the first foundation stone was laid.
  The castle took many years to complete, with the First World War and the economic downturn causing many delays. Castle Drogo was finally completed in 1930, a year before Julius died.  Castle Drogo was the last castle to be built in England, and probably the last private house in the country to be built entirely of granite.  It is now a Grade I listed building.
caption: Castle Drogo, Devon
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