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Love is the strongest emotion. For this, nature itself bears a striking witness. For if we remove love from nature, all else is gone: The bright colors, the graceful forms, the melodious sounds, some of the best music, poetry, painting, sculpture, literature, and art. For flowers are but sexual organs, and the beautiful song of the nightingale is but a love call: To charm the ears of its winged paramour.

Then think of such imposing buildings as the Taj Mahal or the Boldt Castle in New York. Love has always inspired the greatest expression of human genius. That’s true of architecture, literature, of music. Yet love, to borrow the rather trite expression—is not a bed of roses. When it causes disappointment and despair—it exacts the greatest pain—its pound of flesh. And that’s the story of Lorde Egerton Castle in Kenya.

The Story Of Lord Egerton

Born into British royalty in the days of William Gladstone, Maurice Egerton, the fourth Baron Egerton, was a private, complex personality. An only son after two of his brothers passed away, Maurice Egerton was known to be humble, modest, and self-effacing. These traits are all the more remarkable because of his enviable upbringing in the relative wealth and riches of British royalty. However, despite his shy exterior, he was known to be an interesting person—especially after the ice of unfamiliarity had thawed a little bit. There are three things that he loved with passion: Children, cars, and airplanes. The latter is witnessed by his friendship with the Wright Brothers and by the fact that he had his own planes and small airstrip at Tatton, a civil parish in the Borough of Cheshire East—and the ceremonial county of Cheshire in England.

But Maurice was also an adventurer who loved hunting, photography, and generally getting lost in the woods. Obviously, such a character must have some measure of courage and bravery as well as a spirit of wanderlust. It must have been these traits that would make him visit such places as the Gobi Desert, the Tien Shan Mountains in central Asia, and of course, Kenya. Obviously, commercial consideration also loomed large, especially in Kenya, where tea and coffee were promising cash crops. He reportedly acquired his first parcel in Kenya through a grant after serving in the Great War. He would buy his second parcel, about 21,000 acres—from Lord Delamere.

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Lord Egerton And The Story Of His Unreciprocated Love

Maurice Egerton was a man who was organized, elaborate, and detailed. He brought such traits into his business enterprise—factors that enabled him to achieve a measure of success. Except, of course, in his social life. Perhaps it was because of his reclusive nature. No one can put a finger on it. But the facts credibly lend themselves to such a hypothesis. As a result, he is not known to have had close lady acquaintances. Two photos, taken while on a trip to France— feature him with a lady. However, there’s not the slightest hint that the lady in the two photos was any special as to suggest a romantic liaison.

But as is often said, there’s someone for everyone; and Lord Maurice Egerton’s turn would eventually come about. By this time, he was past his midlife and well into his 60s. While the details are scanty, in the late 1930s, Maurice Egerton met a lady who would bring the color of romance to his plain, solitary life. By one account, she’s described as “nubile,” or saw she appeared in the eyes of his smitten beholder. Whatever her appearance, one thing is certain, she was Austrian and like her suitor, a stock of royalty, albeit from a different country.

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Lord Egerton would bring his groom-to-be to Kenya, perhaps to see where they would spend their life after the nuptials. It was a four-room building in the heart of a large farm. The Austrian princess was not impressed and not amused. After spending less than two hours in the house, the lady would remark that the house resembled a “chicken coop.” She later left in a huff on her way back to Europe.

The Building Of Lord Egerton Castle & How To See It

Thinking that a better house would impress his lover, Lord Egerton set out to build a castle. He would contract English architect Albert Brown to come up with an architectural design similar to the one in Tatton Park. He would import materials from Britain, Italy, and even China. The result was an imposing 52-room castle elegantly stretched out on 38 acres.

However, the lady still disdained this castle as small and, for the second time, declined Egerton’s marriage proposal. Devastated, Egerton never again allowed any woman in the castle while he was alive. Lord Egerton Castle is 15 kilometers from Nakuru Town on the northwestern side and is usually open on any day of the week. From Nairobi, it’s about 172 kilometers. A visit to Lord Egerton Castle offers a glimpse into the treacherous nature of love.