I. Eternal Stone, Living Story

Stone remembers — I’ve come to believe that now. Not in some mystical sense, but in the way you stand before a castle wall and feel something looking back. The wind, the rain, the countless hands that shaped it have left their mark.

It’s been a while since my last Chronicles entry, and in that time life has been anything but idle: long-haul flights to Asia to sit with our factory partners, the search for an agency to capture our collection with a cinematic spirit, and months of sourcing fabrics deep into Spring and Summer 2026. There was even a family holiday — a reminder that adventure is often about the company more than the coordinates.

But the spark for this post began quietly, during paternity leave, with Game of Thrones playing late at night while I cradled a newborn. Those brooding keeps and battlements nudged a fascination I’d long had for the castles of the British Isles.

By autumn, The Odyssey of the Isles will step from sketch to seam — a collection shaped not just by fabrics and fit, but by this deepening curiosity for the Isles’ stone-bound storytellers.

II. How to Read a Fortress: Anatomy of a Castle

The more I looked into castles, the more I realized they’re not random piles of stone — they’re carefully planned works of craft. Many are built from local rock, quarried and cut by master masons whose skill was as much art as survival. Some walls were sealed with lime harling, a breathable plaster that kept the damp out, the way a good coat keeps you warm without stifling you.

Then there’s the ingenuity: spiral staircases that twist clockwise so defenders could strike more easily with their right hands; arrow loops that gave archers a view out but left attackers with no clean shot in; murder holes (which are exactly what they sound like) to rain down rocks or boiling water on unwelcome guests; iron yetts — heavy lattice grilles that could halt a battering ram in its tracks.

And the forms! Z-plan tower houses with their playful angles, corbelled bartizans (small overhanging turrets) peering down from corners, battlements that began as defence and evolved into ornament.

It struck me how similar this is to tailoring — the way beauty and utility live side by side. A great coat and a great castle both prove that function and elegance don’t just coexist — they complete each other.

III. From Battlement to Ballroom: The Evolution from Rugged to Refined

At first, castles were purely about survival. Stark keeps of the medieval period were built to dominate, not to charm. Everything was about thickness, height, and endurance.

But then came a shift — styles softened without losing their strength. The Scots Baronial style, for example, kept its muscular presence but welcomed romance: conical turrets, decorative finials, and larger windows that let in more than just arrow fire. Across the Isles, castle gardens blossomed, interiors grew ornate, and great halls became places for feasts as well as councils of war.

This progression from rugged to refined felt familiar. It’s the same balance I try to find in Arc & Iveagh — pieces that can weather a storm yet walk into a dinner without feeling out of place. The romance isn’t an afterthought; it’s stitched in alongside the structure.

IV. Rebuild, Restore, Reimagine: Castles in the Modern Age

Not all castles are destined to crumble. Across the British Isles, there’s been a quiet but powerful revival — part restoration, part reinvention.

Eilean Donan was rebuilt over 20 years, its iconic bridge and walls now as much a national symbol as a tourist postcard. Craigievar Castle’s pink façade was brought back to life with 13,000 litres of historic limewash. The Castle of Mey, rescued by the Queen Mother, blends modern comfort with historical integrity and still welcomes the Royal Family. Aldourie Castle now offers exclusive stays while funding estate rewilding — a modern partnership between luxury and preservation.

What fascinates me is this new model: hospitality as heritage savior. Visitors don’t just stay; they help fund the survival of the very place they’re enjoying.

In a way, it mirrors what we’re doing at Arc & Iveagh — breathing contemporary life into tradition, making it relevant and ready for the present without sanding off the character time has given it.

V. Culture Cast in Stone: Identity, Memory & Myth

The more I dug into this subject, the more I saw castles as living identities. They’re not just fortresses — they’re markers of belonging.

They’ve been clan seats, royal residences, and symbols of sovereignty. Their architecture is like a cultural family tree: Gaelic knotwork beside Norman arches, Norse ornamentation in the north, Anglo-Norman strongholds in Ireland and Wales.

And they’re still alive. Falconry in English courtyards, Highland games in Scottish grounds, medieval fairs in Welsh keeps — proof that these aren’t relics behind glass, but traditions still unfolding in stone and air.

It made me realize that heritage isn’t static. It’s more like a conversation — and the castles are still speaking.

VI. From Battlement to Backstory: The Odyssey of the Isles Collection

Somewhere along the way, all this fascination started to seep into the clothes I was designing.

The Balmoral Polo Coat’s Ulster lapel has the same commanding line as a castle entrance. The Harris Tweed we chose carries the mottled depth of rain-soaked stone. Waxed cotton feels like harling — protective, weatherproof, and quietly elegant.

I didn’t set out to make “castle-inspired” clothes. I set out to make pieces that feel as grounded, enduring, and storied as the places I’ve been reading about. Clothes that, like the best fortresses, protect you — but also invite you in.

VII. Three Restored Castles to Stay In Before You Die

It’s one thing to tour a castle by day — it’s another to hear its walls breathe at night. Staying in one changes the way you see it; you’re not just a visitor anymore, you’re part of its story for a moment.

Aldourie Castle, Scotland – On the shores of Loch Ness, Aldourie is the sort of place that makes you forget the 21st century entirely. Restored with an almost obsessive devotion to detail, it feels like a private world: grand drawing rooms, hidden staircases, and a parkland estate now being rewilded. By morning, mist rolls off the water like a curtain rising.

Thornbury Castle, England – Once owned by Henry VIII, this Tudor fortress near Bristol is now a luxury hotel. You can sleep in the very room the king and Anne Boleyn once shared. The bed is four-poster, the windows are arrow-slit, and the gardens are the sort you stroll slowly, as if history might tap you on the shoulder.

Ashford Castle, Ireland – In County Mayo, Ashford is the definition of restoration done right. Built in the 13th century, it’s now a five-star retreat with falconry, fishing, and dining that belongs in its own novel. Yet the stone corridors still echo in a way that makes you glance over your shoulder.

Traveling this way isn’t just indulgence — it’s stewardship. Each night spent here helps preserve centuries of story, ensuring that the next traveler will find the same magic waiting.

VIII. What Endures

In the end, I realized the castle is a perfect stand-in for what Arc & Iveagh is about: strong foundations, timeless craft, and the courage to live fully in the present.

Stone remembers. Clothes can too — if we make them well and wear them long enough. This autumn, The Odyssey of the Isles arrives. If you’ve read this far, you already know the stones that shaped it. The rest, as always, is yours to discover.