Visitors to the UK will be surprised by the quantity, age and fascinating history held within its many castles. Many defensive castles can be found in Scotland and Wales, but for those in the southeast of England and the London area, the Castles of Kent are some of the most complete and impressive of all. They seem to have always been there, serving as a backcloth to Britain’s ever-changing history.
Castles can be an interesting theme or a focal point for a trip. It may be the location or the architecture that appeals. You can stay in English castles, either in apartments, as a hotel or as a bed and breakfast establishment. You can even get a 4-day Great British Heritage Pass from the English Tourist Board which saves on entrance fees and gives holders priority entrance to more than 550 castles.
Built around the 11th century after the famous Battle of Hastings in 1066, many of the castles around Canterbury, Dover and Rochester were built by William the Conqueror to defend his new territory. A further spate of castle-building and reinforcements took place in the 16th century when King Henry VIII built a series of coastal castles against the threat of a French invasion. Many of these defensive castles are characterized by their massive, bulky walls, often up to 12 feet thick (that’s a lot of stone!), sparse windows which were just arrow-slits high in the walls, crenellated battlements, inner courtyard, moat with a drawbridge and sharp metal portcullis which dropped down vertically over the gateway. Some were built as ‘motte and bailey’ castles. In some Kent castles, visitors can still see the foundations and remains of Norman keeps perched atop a man-made mound of earth, (the motte) with an outer timber fence (the bailey), enclosing a courtyard and the tower or ‘keep’.
One such example is Dover Castle which has witnessed many historic events over many centuries. The tunnels which were developed during the Napoleonic Wars were invaluable as recently as World War 2 when they were used as a strategic military command centre and underground hospital which can still be toured today.
Later, castles became more comfortable and served rather as palaces with a few defenses rather than as army barracks. The lovely Hever Castle was built as a country manor house for the Boleyn family and was the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, one of Henry VIII’s wives. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and a maze, it still has its lake and cottages for the staff who worked on the estate. You can relive the tales of the past at the jousting events which take place here during the summer which are followed by a medieval hog roast and entertainment by colorful singing minstrels.
One of the most beautifully situated castles in England is magnificent Leeds Castle. Named after the nearby village of Leeds, it should not be confused with the northern city of Leeds, some 250 miles away. Built as a royal palace in the 12th century, it has been the home to many English kings over the centuries and it is still furnished in keeping with its former status. The castle juts out into its own lake/moat and is surrounded by the former royal hunting grounds, parkland and gardens. Leeds Castle is quite extensive, with several buildings including a medieval gatehouse, a Tudor Maiden’s Tower and a 13th century garden structure known as a ‘gloriette’.
Whether you are visiting Kent as a historian, lover of architecture, museum seeker, battle enthusiast or just want somewhere thought-provoking and educational to spend the day, the historic castles of Kent are sure to appeal. Offering a chance to see how royalty lived and how battles were fought and won, there is a huge choice of castles to suit every age and interest. More details and the location of these and other things to do in Kent, are available on our informative website.
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