The Givens Castle

Chicago, a city known for its bustling city life and towering skyscrapers, also takes pride in a differently styled historical landmark - an old Irish castle.

Located at 10244 S. Longwood Dr., in the affluent Beverly neighborhood on the city's far southwest side, the Givens Castle, built in 1886, is one of the neighborhood's oldest treasures.

Adding even more glamour is the "love story" behind the limestone castle. It was built by Robert G. Givens, an American businessman who worked as a real estate promoter and a novelist, to impress his fiancée. There are several different tales about the design of the building, some saying that it was a replica of her family castle, some that it was a sketch he drew of an existing ivy castle in his native Ireland. Unconfirmed stories say that the bride died before she had the chance to live in the castle.

According to the Beverly Area Planning Association, the 3-story castle cost $80,000 to build, due to the cost of hauling the exact same type of limestone to build the replica as was used in the original Irish castle. Written descriptions describe the castle as originally having fifteen beautifully furnished rooms decorated with rich tapestries, lit with stained glass windows, elegant chandeliers and big copper gaslights. It was warmed with tiled fireplaces. It is believed that Givens lived in the home between 1886 and 1894, then again from 1904 to 1909.

Property records show that Givens sold the property to John B. Burdett in 1909, who sold it in 1920 for $7,000 to Mrs. Bonnie Siemens and husband, Dr. Miroslaw Siemens. According to the current owners, Dr Siemens had his office in the castle, until he filed bankruptcy in 1935, and the castle was put into a trust in 1937. The building was bought by the Beverly Unitarian Fellowship in 1942, for $14,000. It was merged into the Beverly Unitarian Church in 1951, the interior of the building was redesigned by members of the congregation, and a school building was built adjacent to the castle in 1959.