Albion Castle

You are looking at a structure that defies the standard architecture of San Francisco. Built in 1870, Albion Castle was designed by an English immigrant named John Hamlin Burnell to resemble the Norman fortifications of his homeland. Its walls are built from stones that were originally used as ballast in the cargo ships that sailed into the city during the nineteenth century. While it appears to be a residence, it was constructed primarily as an industrial machine, specifically designed to house the Albion Porter and Ale Brewery.