To finish your tour, take the stone stairs back to the lakeside lawn and make your way to the covered walkway straight ahead.
We end our tour at the end of the pergola, a curving covered walkway leading from the library to this point, looking northwest toward Red Hill. In the distance, you may also be able to see Squam Lake.
The roof above you was recently restored – the Castle Preservation Society commissioned and installed custom terra cotta roof tiles to replicate what was originally here. The finial on the roof’s peak features three carved wooden squirrels. Though not an exact replica of the original finial, it was inspired by it.
When the Plants lived here, this spot would have been furnished with wicker lawn furniture – creating yet another delightful outdoor living space for enjoying Lucknow’s vast natural beauty. This location and this mansion are certainly memorable. As one real estate advertisement contended:
“Setting like feudal castles of old, amidst the grandeur of its mountain fastness, surrounded on every side with such grandeur of scenery that once viewed it is never forgotten."
This brings us to the end of our audio tour. My name is Robin Sherman; I’m the Curator and Director of Preservation here at Castle in the Clouds and I want to thank you for spending some time with me exploring Lucknow and the life and legacy of Tom and Olive Plant.
