A PENSIONER has built an 85ft high castle in his back garden after becoming sick of visiting other one’s.
Gerry Halman, or Lord Gregarious as he likes to call himself, has spent the last 34 years making the medieval-style building.
Jam PressGerry Halman has built his very own 85ft tall castle at his home in the Netherlands[/caption]
Jam PressThe building is located in his own back garden[/caption]
Jam PressGerry’s obsession with castle led to him building his own[/caption]
Located in his garden in the village of Blesdijke, about 70 miles northeast of Amsterdam, in the Netherlands, Castle Olt Stoutenburght cuts a magnificent figure amongst its surroundings.
Boasting four towers that contain several storeys, a main hall, suits of armour, and an underground cellar, the castle has been constructed with great attention to detail.
What’s even more impressive is how Gerry, 76, has worked on the structure almost single-handedly.
And he credits his marvellous creation with the fact he became fed up of not having his own castle.
“I’m really a fan of history,” Gerry explained. “I’ve visited many castles, but at some point, that wasn’t enough.
“I had to start building one myself.
“I always get inspiration for my work through books and visiting other castles.”
Gerry also claims to be particularly inspired by Romanesque architecture.
Despite having no architectural training, the pensioner claims he has “not yet discovered a crack in the wall” of his magnificent buidling.
“Reading books, that is the secret. That can take you far,” he said.
“I don’t have any construction drawings because everything is in my head.”
However, even though he has been working on the project for more than three decades, Gerry insists it remains unfinished.
He even concedes that the fantasy castle may never be completed in his lifetime.
“The castle is never finished,” he said.
Gerry, who is building the castle on an underlying layer of Ice Age clay on his land, used to own a fancy dress store.
As such, he has placed mannequins around the castle as tower guards and damsels in distress.
He even recently added a dragon to the castle as a birthday gift to himself, according to NOS.
Gerry believes the mythical creature serves to protect the people and now partners a Phoenix that had previously stood for three years.
“Yin and Yang,” said the lord of the castle. “My birthday was a great opportunity to give myself this dragon as a gift.
“I have many friends and acquaintances, but I don’t think I should expect these kinds of gifts from them.”
Despite insisting the project remains unfinished, Castle Olt Stoutenburght is available to rent for parties and weddings on a limited basis.
Jam PressGerry used mannequins from his old fancy dress store to place around the castle[/caption]
Jam PressThe image shows just how close to his house the castle is[/caption]
Jam PressDespite working on the project for more than three decades, Gerry insists the project remains unfinished[/caption] Published: [#item_custom_pubDate]
