930 E Gorham St. Built Ca. 1861 Demolished 1893 Gothic Revival
The sandstone house known as “Walker Castle” was located in the 900 block of E. Gorham St.
Built in about 1861 by an Englishman, Benjamin Walker, who moved to Madison with his wife
and three children. They moved back to England in about 1863 and the property was sold to
William Thompson, who resided there for several years with his family. There was an
underground tunnel to a stable on the property, and reportedly another tunnel to the
Leitch House two blocks away.
After being vacant for many years, ownership passed to
Timothy Brown, a prominent businessman.
After his death in 1879, his son Frank demolished the castle and used the stone to construct
the home of J.L. Tormey at
137 E. Gorham Street
and part of the house built by Frank Oakley at Carroll and Langdon streets in 1884. Facing
Carroll Street that house was demolished to make way for the
Delta Gamma Sorority House.
By 1930 another house was built on the lot by Dr. Arthur Sullivan (930 E. Gorham)
Since about 1940 the site has been occupied by the Christ Presbyterian Church.
A street, Castle Place, divides the old property of the Walker Castle.
