The Regency Villa
Joseph Medworth's new house was constructed from materials salvaged from the Mansion. Both exterior and interior features were recycled providing a late Georgian Villa with 17th century panelling and an elaborate chimney piece in the what is now the Fendick Room. Joseph was a colourful character and of undoubted ability, although his personal life left him open to some criticism. Whilst his wife remained in London, he employed two housekeepers in Wisbech who bore him 7 children.He died in 1827 at the age of 75, the youngest of his nine children having been born when he was 73.
Inherited by Medworth’s children, the Castle was next put up for sale in 1864 under the terms of Medworth's will, when it was bought by William Peckover of Wisbech's infuential banking family
During the 19th century it became a school, first operated by Rev W Holmes of the Independent Chapel in Castle Square and subsequently by Miss Harman and her brother. A dentist proclaiming Bradley’s Artificial Teeth occupied the building and later an optician, Mr Girling until 1957. In 1932, the Hon Alexandrina Peckover donated the memorial garden to the Borough of Wisbech.
In 1957 the property once more came up for sale and was bought by Mrs Fendick, wife of Mr T Gordon Fendick who was Chief Education Officer for the Isle of Ely. On his death in March 1969 she gave the Castle and grounds to the Isle of Ely and Cambridgeshire Education Authority as a memorial to her husband.
