Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade II* listed building. Main construction periods 1600 to 1820. A 17th century house, altered and extended in 18th century when it was 'gothicised and castellated'. It is one of the very few examples of the castellated revival in Kent. Inside, 16th century panelling survives in a room in the south east corner, and 16th century heraldic glass in the hall and on the staircase.

Monument Types

• COUNTRY HOUSE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1500 AD? to 1805 AD)
• SITE (Post Medieval - 1600 AD to 1820 AD)
• CASTLE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1805 AD to 2050 AD)

Full description

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The following text is from the original listed building designation:
In the entry for CHIDDINGSTONE CHIDDINGSTONE CORNER
6/234 Chiddingstone Castle
the grade should be amended to read II*
1. 5280 CHIDDINGSTONE CHIDDINGSTONE CORNER Chiddingstone Castle TQ 4945 6/234
II
2. C17 house, altered and extended in Cl8. Gothicised circa 1800. Further Gothicising took place after 1829, done by Henry Kendal (designs exhibited Royal Academy 1838). Main north front of 3 storeys 5 windows. Coursed freestone with corbelled battlements. Square towers at left; and octagonal towers flanking centre bay. Windows in chamfered reveals under hoodmoulds, some with modern bars and some with wooden tracery. In centre and on ground floor windows stone-mullioned with tracery. Centre traceried double door in many-chamfered arch. Back view shows clear distinction between 2 periods of Gothicising. The earlier part has pointed windows with wood tracery bars; the later square headed windows with stone tracery. Inside several C17 features remain, notably staircase (although with Cl8 balusters inserted) and panelling. Large archaeological and Oriental collections on display. Formerly the home of the Streatfeild family.
Listing NGR: TQ4983145126

Description from record TQ 44 NE 8 :
[TQ 4983 4513] Chiddingstone Castle [NAT] (1) Chiddingstone Castle, Grade II, Chiddingstone Corner. 17th century house, altered and extended in 18th century. Gothicised circa 1800. Further Gothicising took place after 1829, done by Henry Kendal (designs exhibited Royal Academy 1838). (For full description see list.) (2) Chiddingstone Castle, grading amended to II*. (3) Castle, a sizeable late 17th century hipped-roofed house, inflated into a "castle" in the early 19th century. This was done c. 1805, by the architect William Atkinson. (Works of c. 1836-8 by Kendall did not affect the exterior.) Symmetrical north front, three storeyed. Windows with hood moulds. Chiddingstone Castle is one of the very few examples of the castellated revival in Kent. Inside, 16th century panelling survives in a room in the south east corner, and 16th century heraldic glass in the hall and on the staircase. (4)

It is said that when the house was gothicised in c. 1800 the road, which had previously led west from the village right past the castle, was moved to pass north of the castle and a lake created.(5)

<1> OS 1:10000 1976 (OS Card Reference). SKE48161.

<1> 1976, OS card / NAR index entry, OS 1:10000 1976 (Bibliographic reference). SKE7758.

<2> DOE, 1975, OS card / NAR index entry, DOE(HHR) Dist of Sevenoaks Kent Jan 1975 63 (Bibliographic reference). SKE7759.

<3> 1978, OS card / NAR index entry, DOE(HHR) Dist of Sevenoaks Kent Nov 1978 (Amendment) (Bibliographic reference). SKE7760.

<4> J Newman, 1980, OS card / NAR index entry, The Bldgs of Eng W Kent and the Weald 1980 214 (J Newman) (Bibliographic reference). SKE7761.

<5> revised 2002, A guide to St Mary's Chiddingstone (Unpublished document). SKE13453.

Sources and further reading

Related records