Top 3 Castles around Brenchley

As of Feb 2025, the castle is temporarily closed for restoration and has scaffold erected around it – but still an impressive sight.

The complex is dominated by the manor house on the hill and the ruin further down in the valley. The ruin was "created" from a functioning house several hundred years old by the owners of the manor house in order to obtain a romantic view. The two buildings are embedded in a beautiful garden. https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/scotney-castle

After the Hussey family gave up the house and the last resident of the family died, the house was initially converted into 6 apartments. Margaret Thatcher lived in one of them during her time as Prime Minister. Here she was "easier to protect" than in London. Now everything has been returned to the way it was before the conversion 😉

This garden, which is not so well known internationally, gave us so much joy! Incredible flowers, and that in April. The "new" house can be visited, the old one is just a very picturesque ruin. Entry per adult £17, NT members excluded. Parking was free today, the guidebook said £4 (?) Café extremely friendly and really good cake.

Great view of the castle from the bridge over the River Medway. A motte-and-bailey castle was built on this site after the Norman conquest as further defence. The castle as it looks to today was built in the 13th Century, and the mansion was added in the 18th Century. The council now use the mansion for offices, but the castle is worth a visit.

On the lower part of the hill, at the moat, is Scotney Old Castle, built on an island in the 14th century. Further up the hill sits Scotney New Castle, built between 1843 and 1843 when the original property started to crumble. The estate is now in the care of the National Trust. For further details see their website nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/scotney-castle

This Victorian mansion was built in 1837. Constructed from sandstone quarried from the grounds of the Old Castle, its privileged position offers splendid views of the castle and the estate. As a curiosity, during Margaret Thatcher's time as Prime Minister, she had an apartment in this building. Currently, it is owned by the National Trust, and you can find more information, plan your visit, and check the opening times at: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/kent/scotney-castle

The site of a medieval earthworks