I’ll move to Italy to accept my free castle and be a hermit and caretaker, so long as it comes with a massive library I can stock with books. I think I’ve found my new life’s calling.
You could have like the summer library of detective stories, the winter library of science, the autumn library of dark eastern writers and the spring library filled with frivolous lecture without even breaking a sweat.
The caveat is that you would probably have to upgrade it enough so the books in the library don’t mildew from the weather. But if you have a million and can take on one of those free ones, I can see tackling that one room at a time.
Heating the whole thing is just dumb. Plus an old castle is drafty which reduces humidity. But even if the stones mold in the winter a quick bleach scrub takes care of it. Natural stone isn’t a very mold friendly material anyway.
Of course that’s the issue you have to heat any parts that are renovated. So depends on the castle you get
Easy, I’ll just wait to be contacted on a dark and stormy night by a lawyer in a fancy suit to inform me that my long lost reclusive great grandfather has passed away, and I as the sole remaining heir, have inherited his fortune along with his castle. The only catch is, of course, that in order to accept the inheritance, I must spend a full week sleeping in said castle. After that, bringing on his quirky, and mysterious staff to help me manage and run the place should be no problem. As long as I remember to NEVER set foot in the basement, I’ll be fine.
Well I’d make a good start by installing really good insulating windows throughout. Then there’s probably room and access to put solar panels on the battlements
If it’s a historical monument you’re stuck with period windows installed by approved contractors (or yourself if you manage to source glass that wouldn’t get you fines for not respecting the historical accuracy the State wants). There’s a reason there’s so many ruins, the rules are insane.
If you’re a rich enough hotel magnate you can buy off the people writing the compliance shit and/or the inspectors, I guess.
I’ll move to Italy to accept my free castle and be a hermit and caretaker, so long as it comes with a massive library I can stock with books. I think I’ve found my new life’s calling.
Massive library?
Have you been to a castle 😁
You could have like the summer library of detective stories, the winter library of science, the autumn library of dark eastern writers and the spring library filled with frivolous lecture without even breaking a sweat.
The caveat is that you would probably have to upgrade it enough so the books in the library don’t mildew from the weather. But if you have a million and can take on one of those free ones, I can see tackling that one room at a time.
Don’t get the castle in England but in France, good weather and holes in the castle will keep all the books sane.
How are you going to pay for the 3000€/month energy bill to keep the thing warm enough to stay reasonably mold-free, while being an hermit?
Heating the whole thing is just dumb. Plus an old castle is drafty which reduces humidity. But even if the stones mold in the winter a quick bleach scrub takes care of it. Natural stone isn’t a very mold friendly material anyway.
Of course that’s the issue you have to heat any parts that are renovated. So depends on the castle you get
You would have to at least heat the library, or the books are going to rot.
Easy, I’ll just wait to be contacted on a dark and stormy night by a lawyer in a fancy suit to inform me that my long lost reclusive great grandfather has passed away, and I as the sole remaining heir, have inherited his fortune along with his castle. The only catch is, of course, that in order to accept the inheritance, I must spend a full week sleeping in said castle. After that, bringing on his quirky, and mysterious staff to help me manage and run the place should be no problem. As long as I remember to NEVER set foot in the basement, I’ll be fine.
Well I’d make a good start by installing really good insulating windows throughout. Then there’s probably room and access to put solar panels on the battlements
If it’s a historical monument you’re stuck with period windows installed by approved contractors (or yourself if you manage to source glass that wouldn’t get you fines for not respecting the historical accuracy the State wants). There’s a reason there’s so many ruins, the rules are insane.
If you’re a rich enough hotel magnate you can buy off the people writing the compliance shit and/or the inspectors, I guess.
I was thinking you’d leave/preserve the original leaded window and fit another inside. Castles have thick walls.