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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 75 NE 286
Type of record:Monument
Name:Allington Castle Gardens

Summary

Italian Formal Garden.


Grid Reference:TQ 7509 5793
Map Sheet:TQ75NE
Parish:MAIDSTONE, MAIDSTONE, KENT

Monument Types

  • FORMAL GARDEN (FORMAL GARDEN, Post Medieval - 1540 AD to 1900 AD)
  • PARK (Post Medieval to Modern - 1540 AD to 2050 AD)
Protected Status:Historic Park or Garden 4: Allington Castle

Full description

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Italian formal garden constructed after 1908, consists of 200yard yew walk with a circular basin pool at the north west end. Pool enclosed by circular hedge and stone pergola piers at the south end. Recent alterations have included the construction of a folly. (1)(2)

DESCRIPTION
Allington Castle is one of the most secretive and romantically beautiful castles in Kent. It is sadly now almost engulfed by housing and industrial development. Such is the character of its location, however, and the ingenuity of the landscaping of the mere 6 hectares or so now left as an oasis, that from the castle itself there is a scene of tranquil repose, and green coolness of the River Medway Valley as it must have been in the last century. Like ‘The Friars' at Aylesford, this protected historic landscape in such a highly developed area is of considerable importance.

The castle today is a fine piece of restoration undertaken by Sir Martin Conway when he purchased the freehold of the ruined 13th century castle from Lord Romney for £48,000.

Principal building:
castle Created 1281

The castle was constructed in 1281 after being granted a license to add crenellations (battlements) to an existing manor house. The castle is currently used as a private residence and as a conference facility.

HISTORY
To quote Lord Conway as he first saw itthe site in 1905 'its walls and fine visible towers were buried in ivy ... most of its moat had been filled in ... there were neither floors nor roofs ...'

Restoration continued for the next 25 years using skilled local craftsmen to carefully rebuild and renovate the castle. Philip Tilden (see Chilham Castle/Port Lympne) was asked to landscape the grounds, which at the time of purchase were 'like a rural slum with ramshackle buildings all along the river'. Trees, and screenery were planted, including poplars (some fine Populus nigra) and a tulip tree.

Tilden presumably was responsible for a most interesting and evocative Italian garden on the only level site, as a sort of terrace above the castle. It consists of a 200 yard long yew walk running north-west south-east with a circular basin pool (pool now rather choked with weeds) at the north-west end. It is enclosed by a circular hedge and massive stone pergola piers at the south end (cross members all missing).

At the extreme end are two vertical cypresses and a back drop of ‘Italica' Lombardy poplars. The cross axis has a small mysterious roundel with pool and glimpses of the castle below through the hedge. Its rather neglected state at present makes it seem even more authentically Italian and there is great atmosphere. There has been some storm damage, mainly affecting conifers.

The castle before restoration goes back to 1281 when Stephen de Penchester was granted a licence to embattle the manor house at Allington. It subsequently passed to the Cobham family (Cobhams seem to be everywhere in Kent) and thence to the Wyatt family in the 15th century. The Wyatts enlarged the castle. Their most illustrious member, Sir Thomas Wyatt, received a whole batch of properties in the area at the dissolution in 1538 (Boxley/Malling Abbeys, Aylesford Priory) but he then lost his head for his part in the anti-catholic Kent Rebellion (1554).

Successive owners in the 18th and 19th centuries never seem to have loved the castle, which sank further and further into dilapidation. It was threatened with demolition in the late-19th century before being rescued by Lord Conway.

However, the restoration programme was halted when funds became exhausted (unlike Hever where they did not). In 1936, the castle was loaned to the MP for Maidstone, Alfred (later Lord) Bossom. Then, in 1949, the Carmelites bought the castle and carried out further renovation and repair work, adding workshops and reception centres. The future of Allington now seems assured. Traffic noise however does mar the peace of the place.

People associated with this site
Architect: Philip Tilden (born 31/05/1887 died 25/02/1956)

Features
planting
Feature created: 1905 to 1930
Creator: Philip Tilden (born 31/05/1887 died 25/02/1956)
The Italian garden.
(3-4)


<1> Not applicable, SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry, The Historic Gardens of Kent, Kent Gardens Compendium Vol 1. KCC 1996 p.4 (Miscellaneous Material). SKE6440.

<2> Untitled Source, Arch South East field survey 1997. (Unpublished document). SKE6451.

<3> Parks and Gardens Data Services Limited (PGDS), 2005, Parks and Gardens UK (www.parksandgardens.org) (Website). SKE16061.

<4> Kent County Council, 1996, The historic parks and gardens of Kent (Kent Gardens Compendium) (Unpublished document). SKE12972.

Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
<1>Miscellaneous Material: Not applicable. SMR Kent uncatalogued index entry. The Historic Gardens of Kent, Kent Gardens Compendium Vol 1. KCC 1996 p.4.
<2>Unpublished document: Arch South East field survey 1997..
<3>Website: Parks and Gardens Data Services Limited (PGDS). 2005. Parks and Gardens UK (www.parksandgardens.org).
<4>Unpublished document: Kent County Council. 1996. The historic parks and gardens of Kent (Kent Gardens Compendium).

Related records

TQ 75 NE 21Part of: Allington Castle (Listed Building)