insideKENT Magazine Issue 52 - July 2016 | Page 94

VISITKENT

Chiddingstone Castle
Chiddingstone Castle, whose history can be traced back to the early 16th century, is a
unique country house located in the historic village of Chiddingstone in Kent. The original
Tudor dwelling was first replaced in the 1670s as High Street House and went through
another transformation in the early 1800s to resemble a medieval castle, as was fashionable
at the time – Chiddingstone Castle was born!
Between 1955 and 1977 the Castle
was home to the late antiquarian,
Denys Eyre Bower. Denys was a
gifted collector who devoted his life
to collecting art and artefacts. His
home is now open to the public and
a fully Accredited Museum. The
stately rooms exhibit over 4,000
objects from Denys’ collections,
including Japanese lacquer,
Samurai armour and swords,
Ancient Egyptian antiquities, Royal
Stuart portraits and Jacobite
memorabilia, and Buddhist artefacts.
As well as learning from these
remarkable and unique collections,
visitors can enjoy exploring this
fascinating house with rooms such
as Denys’ study where one can
piece together his eccentric and
complicated life, which featured
failed marriages and a notorious
scandal. A number of Victorian
rooms are also open to visitors,
including the Castle Kitchen, the
Scullery and the Housekeeper’s
Room. From the Servants’ Hall
group visitors can climb the secret
back stairs and discover the
Servant’s Bedroom in the attic – a
real ‘upstairs downstairs’ experience
(accompanied pre-booked groups
only).
On the first floor there is a new
exhibition room (the Streatfeild

Room) featuring the history of the
Castle and the local area; and in
2015 the Library was opened to
visitors for the first time.
The beautiful 35 acres of informal
grounds which surround the Castle
include a lake, woodland,
herbaceous borders, a courtyard
rose garden and a Victorian
Orangery. In 2014, a unique
conceptual garden was created –
a grass maze called the ‘Fields of
Eternity’, a microcosm of Ancient
Egypt where visitors can learn about
life and the environment in 2000BC,
linking the garden to the collections
within the house.
events are held at the Castle throughout each year, such as the Wedding
Fair, Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival, Summer Vintage Fair, Country
Fair and Christmas Fair.

The Castle is open to the public on
Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays and
Wednesdays only from Easter to
the end of October. A visit to the
Castle would not be complete
without sampling a light lunch or a
traditional cream tea in the Castle’s
Tea Room in the former Buttery or
outside in the sunny, sheltered
courtyard. The Gift Shop is located
in the Well Tower and sells a
delightful array of local produce,
gifts, antiques and second-hand
books.

There is always plenty to keep the whole family amused at the Castle
throughout the year – with the Activity Room featuring hands-on activities
linked to the Castle’s Egyptian and Japanese collections – and loads of
dressing up fun and games in the original Victorian Kitchen!
The Country Fair is to be held on Sunday 11th September and will include
an exemption Dog Show and displays of traditional countryside activities
on the East Meadow, as well as loads of shopping, music and refreshments
– all in an idyllic rural setting. Admission will be charged at the gates and
is only £5 for adults and £1 children (5-13), under 5s FREE. New for 2106,
will be the Giant Ceilidh (country dancing) to be held in the arena – something
for all members of the family to enjoy!

Chiddingstone Castle is also an
award-winning wedding and
function venue, and various major

For details of all the events and information on all aspects of the Castle,
please visit www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk or call 01892 870347.

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