Scotney Castle facts for kids
Scotney Castle is a beautiful country house in Kent, England. It's located near Lamberhurst in the valley of the River Bewl. This amazing place is now looked after by the National Trust, a charity that protects historic places and natural beauty.
The gardens at Scotney Castle are very special. They are even called a Site of Special Scientific Interest because of their unique plants and design. The most famous part of the gardens is the ruins of an old, medieval castle, called Scotney Old Castle. It sits on an island in a small lake, surrounded by lovely sloping gardens. You can see colorful rhododendrons, azaleas, and kalmia in spring, beautiful wisteria and roses in summer, and amazing autumn colors.
At the top of the garden, there's a newer house, built between 1835 and 1843. This is known as Scotney New Castle. It was designed by Anthony Salvin and looks like an old Tudor style house, but built in the 1800s. The New Castle opened to the public in 2007, so now everyone can explore it!
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Where is Scotney Castle?
Scotney Castle is found in the south-east of England, in a county called Kent. The small towns of Lamberhurst and Kilndown are nearby. The closest big town is Royal Tunbridge Wells, which is about 3.5 miles away. Even though a main road, the A21, passes by the grounds, you can't see it from the castle, keeping the area peaceful.
The Story of Scotney Castle
The first time Scotney Castle was mentioned in history was in 1137. Back then, a person named Lambert de Scoteni owned the land. Later, around 1378 to 1380, Roger Ashburnham is believed to have started building the castle.
How the Castle Changed Over Time
The castle began as a strong, rectangular house with towers at each corner. It's possible the original plan was never fully finished. By 1558, it seems only the southern tower was still standing. In 1580, the south part of the castle was rebuilt in a style popular during Queen Elizabeth I's time. Around 1630, the eastern part was rebuilt in a grander style. The Elizabethan part was used as a home for a manager until 1905. However, the eastern part was partly taken down when the new house was finished in 1843. This left the old castle as a beautiful ruin in the garden.
A Secret Hiding Place
During a time when being Catholic was against the law in England, a Catholic owner named Thomas Darrell hid a priest named Father Richard Blount, S.J. at the castle. Father Blount secretly helped other Catholics from 1591 to 1598. When authorities raided the castle a second time to arrest him, the priest quickly escaped by climbing over a wall and into the moat!
New Owners and a Dinosaur Footprint
The Darrell family owned Scotney Castle for about 350 years. In 1778, Edward Hussey bought the estate. His grandson, also named Edward, built the 'new' Castle. He used sandstone dug from the slope below the castle. The big hole left from digging the stone was turned into a special "Quarry Garden." This garden even has a 100-million-year-old impression of a dinosaur's footprint!
Scotney Castle and the National Trust
When Christopher Hussey passed away in 1970, he left the entire estate to the National Trust. The Trust rented out several apartments in the castle and on the estate. One famous person who rented a flat there was Margaret Thatcher, who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. She stayed in the Belfry flat during the 1970s and 1980s as a quiet place to relax away from her busy work in London. When her husband, Denis Thatcher, received a special title in 1990, it was officially linked to "Scotney in the County of Kent."
Fun Events at the Castle
The castle grounds have also been used for outdoor plays by William Shakespeare, like A Midsummer Night's Dream. The actors would even appear from behind the bushes, which must have been very exciting! The old Scotney Castle was also used as the setting for the music video for the Squeeze song Some Fantastic Place.
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