Is This Just a Chess Piece, or a Real Castle?

Question

It's an old printer's block, used to be used in typesetting. The number cut into it is, I think, just a catalog number.

It looks like a rook, but may be an actual castle (or prison). Annyone recognize it?

http://i277.photobucket.com/albums/kk80/besunny/Castlearmorycutmaybebest.jpg

Answer 1

It could be an old rook

Answer 2

The rook was standardized as one tower in the Staunton design pieces in 1849.  If your printers block pre-dates that it could be a rook.

Otherwise, I'd say it it is a generic stylization of a castle.   Not one in particular, but all in general.  Or a rook pre-1849.

(Or maybe during the transition to Staunton becoming the standard.  1864 does not mean it isn't a rook, but 1912 does.  No hard and fast date for Staunton becoming the accepted style, but by 1880 I'd be surprised by a three towered rook.)

Answer 3

I really do not think that it is a rook. I do not think it any specific castle either.

Bradford

http://www.braroechess.com

Answer 4

a rook traditionally has only one tower, so it could be a picture of a real castle