IT was the short-lived castle in the heart of Southampton which hosted British society's elite and sported breathtaking views.

In the late 18th century William Petty-Fitzmaurice, 2nd Earl of Shelbourne, was given the title Marquis of Lansdowne by George III for his diplomatic work while First Lord of The Treasury (Prime Minister).

At the Treaty of Paris, Petty-Fitzmaurice had negotiated independence for the American colonies and agreed peace with France.

The family seat was at Bowood in Wiltshire and the Marquis owned many properties including Peartree House where he spent much of his time.

He loved sailing and kept his yacht “Frisk” moored on the river Itchen near The Royal Oak.

The Marquis mixed with high society and would entertain guests at The Dolphin Hotel.

At evening’s end he would bid his guests farewell and walk in the dark via the Saltmarsh Gate and the beach to the ancient Crosshouse where the ferryman would take him to Itchen Ferry village. He would then walk up the steep path to Pear Tree Green and home.

He needed a grand residence in Southampton but locations were limited as Southampton was at the height of its Spa period and many business owners had built lodges outside the walls in “the countryside”. This meant they could ride into town by carriage each morning with a superior air now they no longer lived above their businesses.

The Regency houses in Grosvenor Square, where many retired Navy Officers lived, were considered by the Marquis but he chose the site of Southampton’s Norman castle, the highest point within the town.

The original Norman motte and bailey castle was a neglected ruin by the 1600s and all that was left in 1804 was a small part of the keep used as a dwelling.

The site was restricted by surrounding lanes, businesses and the old walls so the plan was to build a towering status symbol inspired by the Marquis’ travels around Europe.

No time was wasted and work began on a mock gothic castle. Fascinated locals would come to watch the progress on Sunday afternoons.

Failing health led to the Marquis’ death in May 1805 when his eldest son, John Henry Petty, became the 2nd Marquis and continued to make Lansdowne Castle his main home.

Bowood House was boarded up and the huge collection of fine furniture and artworks was brought to Southampton by Petty’s new wife, Maria Arabella, widow of his friend Duke Giffard.

The 2nd Marquis became guardian to her five young daughters and the family hosted parties for British society’s elite. The guests would climb the turrets and have views of the South Downs, The Isle of Wight, Peartree Green and the chalk cliffs of Dorset.

The Lansdowne’s enjoyed their lives in Southampton and held a grand fete in Castle Square for the town’s people on the occasion of Southampton Races in 1807.

While staying with his grandmother in the house leased from Lansdowne on the site of the Juniper Berry pub, Jane Austen’s nephew wrote: “The Marchioness had a light phaeton drawn by six and sometimes eight, little ponies, each pair decreasing in size, and becoming lighter in colour, through all the shades of dark brown, light brown, bay and chestnut, as it was placed further way from the carriage. The two leading pairs were managed by two boyish postillions, the two pairs nearest the carriage were driven in hand. It was a delight to me to look down from the window and see the fairy equipage put together; for the premises of this Castle were so contracted that the whole process went on in this little space that remained of the square.”

In 1809 the 2nd Marquis died and his widow moved to Wycombe House in Richmond to be nearer London society and potential rich husbands for her daughters.

The Third Marquis demolished the castle in 1819. He also took bad advice and removed the 12th century corbels and ribs from Castle Vault.

In 1963 the Castle House apartments were built on what is known as Lansdowne Hill the former site of the castle.