SCOTNEY CASTLE

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Originally an irregular quandrangle castle situated on two islands which was probably constructed in 1378 by Roger de Ashburnham, Conservator of the Peace in Kent and Sussex. All that remains of the castle is a single round tower (the Ashburnham Tower) which was originally one of 4 angle towers. The emplacements of the other 3 can still be seen but the curtain wall survives only as a revetment to the surrounding wet moat. The attached brick house was built in the 17th century. Both the house and castle were reduced to ruins circa 1840. The present house, situated 300 metres to the northeast, was constructed in 1837-43.

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[TQ 68953525] Scotney Castle [GT] (rems of) [TI] (1)

Scotney Castle was situated on an island in a lake-like moat which was separated from the River Bewl to the south by a narrow embankment. Entrance to it was from the north by a drawbridge first to another island and then by a defended bridge connecting the two islands. The castle was reduced to ruins about 1840 and only one of four corner towers, (dating from 1377), of the enceinte wall, the doorway of another, the lower part of the entrance gateway, and some fragments of old walls, remain. There are also the ruins of a house said to have been built by Inigo Jones.

The uninhabited parts of Scotney Castle are scheduled as an ancient monument. [See plan - illust card (3)] (2-5)

Scotney Castle is as described above. The castle ruins and the moat are well preserved. The property is open to the public on certain days of the year.
Published survey (25" 1938-47) correct. (6)

No change. (7)

TQ 689353. Scotney Castle. The castle is of the same type as its neighbour Bodium, being a fortified house surrounded by a large moat. The old castle itself was pulled down in the Elizabethan period and an Elizabethan house was built on the site. This again has fallen into ruins, except for a small fragment which is lived in by the bailiff. Single surviving Medieval round tower has an Elizabethan dwelling house built onto it. Much of this is roofed and furnished, but it is not occupied. Adjoining it is a completely roofless ruined area, maintained as a sort of garden feature. Base of stone curtain and trace of towers also survive but part of the circuit has a later brick wall built on top of it. To the south of the principal moated area are two further islands. The more northerly still has stone abutments for the original wooden bridge and there are two fragments of ivy covered stonework still standing. The island is otherwise grass covered with a few conifers etc. (8)

TQ 689353. Scheduled listing. (9)

Scotney consists of the fragment of a 14th century moated castle in the valley with a 17th century house attached, and a new house built on the hill for Edward Hussey in 1837-44. (10)

Ruins Listed Grade I. (11)

Originally an irregular quandrangle castle situated on two islands which was probably constructed in 1378 by Roger de Ashburnham, Conservator of the Peace in Kent and Sussex. All that remains of the castle is a single round tower (the Ashburnham Tower) which was originally one of 4 angle towers. The emplacements of the other 3 can still be seen but the curtain wall survives only as a revetment to the surrounding wet moat. The attached brick house was built in the 17th century. Both the house and castle were reduced to ruins circa 1840. The present house, situated 300 metres to the northeast, was constructed in 1837-43. Scheduled (13)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1961

( 2) JD MACKENZIE 1897 CASTLES OF ENGLAND

Page(s)85-88

( 3) Kent Archaeological Society Archaeologia Cantiana : being contributions to the history and archaeology of Kent

17, 1887 Page(s)38-48

( 4) Country Life

(6 Sept 1956) Page(s)470

( 5) Ministry of Works 1961 Ancient monuments in England and Wales : list prepared by the Ministry of Works, corrected to 31st December 1960

Page(s)46

( 6) Field Investigators Comments

F1 ASP 29-JAN-63

( 7) Field Investigators Comments

F2 ASP 22-OCT-69

( 8) by Dept of the Environment (Inspectorate of Ancient Monuments) 1981 Ancient Monuments Records Manual and county sites and monuments records

Department Environment Advisory Note DOE (IAM) Record Form 1986 32

( 9) English Heritage 1987 County list of Scheduled Ancient Monuments : December 1987

(10) by John Newman 1976 West Kent and the Weald

The buildings of England Page(s)506-08

(11) Scheduled Monument Notification

DNH List 10-Oct-1989

(12) English Heritage Register of parks and gardens of special historic interest in England

Kent Part 24

(13) Adrian Pettifer 1995 English castles : a guide by counties

Page(s)128-9

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Picturesque style gardens set within a landscape park at Scotney Castle. The gardens were laid out from 1835 by Edward Hussey and include a formal des...

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