Chiddingstone Castle facts for kids
Chiddingstone Castle is a historic building in the village of Chiddingstone, near Edenbridge, Kent, England. It is about 35 miles (56 km) southeast of London, located in the valley of the River Medway. The Streatfeild family built the castle and lived there from the early 1500s until the early 1900s.
In 1938, the Streatfeilds sold the castle to Lord Astor. Since 1977, the Denys Eyre Bower Bequest, a special trust, has looked after the castle and its 35 acres (14 hectares) of grounds. Both the castle and its grounds are open for people to visit. Much of the castle you see today was built in the early 1800s, but it includes parts of even older buildings that stood on the same spot.
Contents
Castle History
Early Beginnings
The first important building on the castle's site was a timber-framed house. Richard Streatfeild, an iron master and wool merchant, lived there in the early 1500s. Not much of this first house remains. In 1679, Henry Streatfeild (1639–1719) had the house rebuilt with red brick. This building was known as High Street House or High Street Mansion because it faced the village's main street. Later, in the 1800s, the grounds were changed, which led to the road through the village being moved to its current path.
Becoming Chiddingstone Castle
In the early 1800s, Henry Streatfeild (1757–1829) asked William Atkinson to rebuild the house in the Gothic style. However, Atkinson's design was not fully finished. In 1835, Henry Streatfeild's son, also named Henry Streatfeild (1784–1852), hired architect Henry Kendal to do more work.
The Streatfeild family owned the house, which was now called Chiddingstone Castle, until 1938. However, they stopped living there after 1900. During the Second World War, members of the Canadian Forces stayed at the castle. After the war, it became Long Dene School until 1954.
Denys Eyre Bower's Vision
In 1955, Denys Eyre Bower (1905–1977) bought the castle. He was a former bank clerk and antiques dealer who wanted to show his amazing collections to the public. Bower was born in Crich, Derbyshire, and started collecting when he was young. He first worked at a bank, then took over an antiques shop in Baker Street, London. When Baker Street was redeveloped, Bower moved to Chiddingstone Castle to display his treasures.
With the help of Ruth Eldridge and her sister Mary, Bower opened Chiddingstone Castle to visitors. He continued to share his collections until he passed away in 1977.
Chiddingstone Castle Today
When Denys Eyre Bower died, he left the castle and his collections to the nation. This led to the creation of the Denys Eyre Bower Bequest. This trust now takes care of the castle and its collections. They open it to the public and host events like weddings. Some of the current trustees are even descendants of the original Streatfeild family.
The castle is a Grade II* listed building, which means it's a very important historic site. Its grounds also contain other listed buildings, like an orangery, and are part of the National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens. Chiddingstone Castle is an accredited museum. It has a tea-room for refreshments and hosts many events and activities throughout the year.
Castle Lake and Fishing
The castle lake is about 3.5 hectares (8.6 acres) in size. It separates the village of Chiddingstone from the castle grounds. The lake naturally has wild Carp, Bream, and Perch fish. For 37 years, starting in 1945, it held the record for the largest Bream ever caught.
Amazing Collections
Denys Eyre Bower filled Chiddingstone Castle with incredible objects from around the world.
Japanese Treasures
Bower's interest in collecting items from Japan was inspired by his father, who loved Chinese porcelain. The castle has one of the most important private collections of lacquer. You can also see swords, armour, and ancient haniwa figures from Japan.
Ancient Egyptian Finds
The castle's Ancient Egyptian collection covers the entire history of this amazing civilization. It includes items found in tombs, like ushabti figures (small statues meant to serve the dead) and amulets (charms for protection). There are also everyday items, such as pots for food and drink. In 2013, some items from this collection were even lent to the Houston Museum of Natural Science for their Hall of Ancient Egypt.
Stuart and Jacobite History
In British history, Denys Eyre Bower was very interested in the House of Stuart royal family and Jacobitism (supporters of the Stuart kings). He was a member of the Royal Stuart Society. His collection in this area includes portraits of Stuart family members, swords, and objects with secret Jacobite symbols. The castle library also has many old books about this period of history.
Buddhist Art
Bower's interest in objects related to Buddhism came from his personal beliefs, as he was a Buddhist himself. His collection doesn't focus on just one type of Buddhist thought or one country. Among the items displayed at the castle are thangkas (Tibetan Buddhist paintings) and images of Buddha.
Local History and Life
Besides Bower's collections, the castle's 19th-century kitchen still looks much like it did long ago. It has original features like three cake ovens. This area displays a collection of old kitchen tools and an ice chest, reminding us that the castle once had an ice house to store ice. You can also see the servants' hall and a servants' bedroom, showing how people lived and worked in the castle in the past. The castle also keeps some old records about the local area's history.
