Tonbridge Castle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tonbridge Castle |
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| Kent, England | |
Tonbridge Castle Gatehouse and the mansion (from the south)
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 Tonbridge Castle
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| Coordinates | 51°11′50″N 0°16′20″E / 51.1971°N 0.2721°E |
| Grid reference | grid reference TQ58854666 |
| Type | Motte and bailey, with later shell keep |
| Site information | |
| Owner | Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council |
| Open to the public |
Yes |
| Condition | The motte and gatehouse survive |
| Site history | |
| Materials | Stone |
| Battles/wars | De Clare rebellion, 1088 |
Tonbridge Castle is a historic castle located in Tonbridge, Kent, England. It was built in the 13th century, which means the 1200s.
The Castle's Early Days
After the Norman Conquest of England, a man named Richard Fitz Gilbert was given land in Kent. His job was to protect the important crossing point of the River Medway. He built a simple castle there. This first castle was a "motte-and-bailey" type. This means it had a big dirt hill (the motte) with a wooden tower on top, and a fenced area (the bailey) below. To create the motte and moat, workers moved about 50,000 tons of earth!
In 1088, the de Clare family, who were related to Fitz Gilbert, went against King William II. The king's army surrounded the castle. After two days, the castle was captured. As a punishment, the king ordered both the castle and the town of Tonbridge to be burned down.
Before the year 1100, the de Clares rebuilt the castle. They replaced the wooden parts with strong stone walls. This stone castle was made even stronger during the 1200s. In 1295, a stone wall was also built around the town to protect it.
The impressive gatehouse, with its two towers, was built by Richard de Clare or his son Gilbert. It took 30 years to build and was finished in 1260. This gatehouse looks a lot like the ones at Caerphilly Castle, which Gilbert also built. For a short time, the official seal of England was kept here when King Edward I visited France.
The castle was not lived in much between 1521 and the late 1700s. It was only used for a short time during the English Civil War. A large house, called the mansion, was added in 1793. Today, both the castle and the mansion are very important historic buildings. They are called "Grade I listed" buildings.
Tonbridge Castle Today
The local government, the council, bought the castle site in 1900. They now use the mansion as their offices. The castle grounds have been turned into a public park for everyone to enjoy.
Tonbridge Castle is also the starting point of a 6-mile bike path. This path goes to Penshurst Place and is called The Tudor Trail.
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