William Douglas Caroe (1857-1938) was an architect known for his ecclesiastical buildings. Following his retirement, he would spend the winter months in Kyrenia in the house he had built himself and called Latomia. He died in Cyprus and was buried at the British cemetery in Kyrenia.
Caroe had designed the new Dome Hotel-Catsellis and revealed, in 1933, during a long conversation with historian Rupert Gunnis that the hotel had cost 4,000 pounds from his own money. Gunnis felt that Caroe had far too grand ideas for a poor island like Cyprus, and doubted if Catsellis would ever get his money back.
At the same time another building was being constructed near the harbour of Kyrenia, the Manifold house, which was nearing completion and was also costing thousands of pounds to build.
While digging in the garden at the site, an old underground passage was discovered, likely chain wells.
Image: pht_01512 > Unknown, Kyrenia – Cyprus, photograph, 6.5x9.2 cm.
© Costas and Rita Severis Foundation
