Starborough Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Starborough Castle |
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| Type | Garden House |
| Location | Dormansland, Surrey |
| OS grid reference | TQ4260744120 |
| Built | 1754 |
| Architectural style(s) | Neo-Gothic |
| Owner | Private |
| Official name: Starborough Castle | |
| Designated | 11 March 1953 |
| Reference no. | 1017522 |
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Listed Building – Grade II*
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| Official name: Starborough Castle Walls and Garden House | |
| Designated | 11 June 1958 |
| Reference no. | 1205666 |
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Starborough Castle, also known as Sterborough Castle, is a special garden house. It was built in 1754 by Sir James Burrow. This house looks like old Gothic buildings. It is made of cut sandstone. You can find it in Surrey, near the River Eden. The castle sits on an island made by people. It is about 3 kilometers (2 miles) southwest of Edenbridge.
Starborough Castle is a very important historical site. It is protected as a Grade II* listed building. It is also a scheduled monument. The garden house was built where an even older castle once stood. That first castle was a strong house from around 1341.
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The First Starborough Castle
The very first Starborough Castle was a large house. It belonged to Reginald de Cobham, 1st Baron Cobham. He was the first Lord Cobham of Sterborough. In 1341, King Edward III gave him permission. This permission allowed him to add battlements to his house. Battlements are the notched tops of castle walls. This made the house a real castle.
How the Old Castle Looked
The old castle was built in a square shape. It was similar to Bodiam Castle. It had four towers and a main gate. A moat surrounded the castle on all sides. A bridge crossed the moat at the south side.
A Royal Prisoner
After a big battle in 1415, the Duke of Orleans was captured. He was held as a prisoner at Starborough Castle for a while. Later, the castle was passed down through families. It came to Edward Burgh around 1476. He married Anne Cobham, who was part of the Cobham family.
Why the Old Castle Was Taken Down
In 1648, a big change happened. The English Parliament ordered the castle to be taken apart. This was during the time of Oliver Cromwell. They were worried that royal supporters might use the castle. They feared it could become a base for a rebellion. So, the castle was dismantled. Only the moat remains from the original castle. Some parts of the old castle were used to build the new garden house.
The New Starborough Castle Garden House
In the 1700s, the castle site became part of a large country garden. Then, in 1754, Sir James Burrow built the new garden house. This house was built in a "Neo-Gothic" style. It looked like old castles but was new. He built it on the moated island.
Changes Over Time
Sir James Burrow also built a manor house nearby. This house is now also called Starborough Castle. Later, this manor house was taken down. A new house was built near the lake around 1870. In 1793, Sir Thomas Turton bought the castle. He worked to clear the moat and improve the water supply.
Later Owners and Restoration
Sir Thomas Turton sold the castle in 1812. Later owners included James Moore in 1870. R. V. Toynbee bought the site in 1933. By then, the garden house was in ruins. In the 1970s, a local farmer named Ray Edwards bought it. He worked to restore the Gothic pavilion. After him, Warwick Leadlay, a gallery owner, bought the site. He added more buildings. The site was even used for an annual jazz festival. Leadlay put the castle up for sale in 2003.
