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Now an unusual and beautifully furnished hotel, Langley Castle was built in the mid-fourteenth century by Sir Thomas de Lucy, for himself and his family to live in during times of uncertainty. Despite its appearance of strength, it was gutted by fire in 1405. It was never rebuilt and remained gradually decaying for 500 years until it was restored by Cadwallader Bates, who bought the Langley estate in 1882 specifically to restore the castle as his residence. Unfortunately he died in 1902, and his wife Josephine completed the restoration, which was remarkably sympathetic. After she died in 1932, the castle remained empty until it was used as a barracks during the Second World War, and then a girls' school and eventually became converted to the hotel it is today.