Listed Building record TR 05 SE 230 - CHILHAM CASTLE
Summary
Location
Grid reference | TR 0668 5347 (point) |
---|---|
Map sheet | TR05SE |
County | KENT |
District | ASHFORD, KENT |
Civil Parish | CHILHAM, ASHFORD, KENT |
Map
Type and Period (8)
- CASTLE (Medieval to Post Medieval - 1160 AD to 1616 AD)
- HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1616 AD to 2050 AD)
- DONKEY WHEEL (Post Medieval to Modern - 1700 AD? to 2050 AD?)
- HA HA (Post Medieval to Modern - 1700 AD? to 2050 AD?)
- SUNDIAL (Post Medieval to Modern - 1700 AD? to 2050 AD?)
- GARDEN TERRACE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1700 AD? to 2050 AD?)
- ELEPHANT HOUSE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1750 AD? to 2050 AD)
- SITE (Post Medieval to Modern - 1616 AD to 1999 AD)
Full Description
Description from record TR 05 SE 3:
[TR 0662 5346] Chilham Castle [NR] (1) Chilham Castle stands on a mound and consists of an octagonal keep with forebuildintg, of about 1160, surrounded by a roughly rectangularcurtain wall, perhaps 14th century but resting on foundations contemporary with the keep. Examination in 1926 by Clapham and Wheeler showed that the base of the forebuilding incorporated the remains of a 11th century hall. The house of 1626 stands immediately to the east of the keep. (2-4) Chilham Castle is as described above and is in good condition. Survey (earthworks only) at 1:2500. (5) Chilham Castle, Grade I. House built 1616, additions and alterations 1861-3 and 1922. Chilham Castle Keep and Donkey Wheel, Grade I. Castle keep and curtain walls. 11th century and 1171-74. Restored early 20th century. 18th century donkey wheel, timber framed shelter with plain tile roof. Horizontal wheel in poor condition. Bridge over lake at Chilham Park, Grade II. 18th century bridge of red brick. Terraces to south of Chilham Castle, Grade II. Late 17th and early 18th century red brick garden terraces. Sundial 20 yards south west of Chilham Castle, Grade II. 18th centurystone sundial with metal plaque. Ha-Ha to south of Chilham Castle, Grade II. 18th century red brick ha-ha. Elephant House (Annaugh House on map), Grade II. Elephant house, now house. Late 18th century, altered 19th century. Red brick and tile roof. (For full descriptions see list.) (6)(7) Additional bibliography. (8-16)
Chilham Castle was sited on a promontory, defending the gap in the Downs made by the river Stour with a straight view down to Canterbury. Previously used by the monarchy, retained by Henry II and again in royal control during the reign of Richard I when money was spent on its repair. Sir Thomas Cheney, however, pulled it down for building materials later in the 16th century. The octagonal keep was thought to have been built in the third quarter of the 12th century at the same time as the curtain walls. A house was built at the site in the 17th century and was subject to alterations in the 19th and early 20th centuries. (19)
The following text is from the original listed building designation:
TR 0653-0753 CHILHAM
7/43 Chilham Castle 13.10.52 GV I
House. 1616 for Sir Dudley Digges, addtions and alterations by David Brandon 1861 - 3, and Sir Herbert Baker, 1922. Red brick and ashlar dressings and plain tile roof. Built as an hexagon open to the south, with C19 and C20 service wing extending to the west. Entrance front: 2 storeys and basement, with string courses to first and second floors and battlements, 3 groups of tall chimneys; 3 storey corner turrets with ogee cupolas, and central 3 storey gabled porch. Regular fenestration of 4 mullioned cross-windows, with single lights in the turrets, and curving oriel (1922) in porch. Oak board doorway in ashlared surround with flanking pilasters and frieze over inscribed "The Lord is my House of Defence and my Castle. Dudley Digges, A.D. 1616, Mary Kempe." The garden and other fronts are of similar design. Interior: restored panelled hall entered in centre of one long side, an unusual overmantel. Much linenfold and C18 panelling elsewhere. Staircase original, of 3 flights, with arcades at main levels; flights running up open wells, with Tuscan columns below and Ionic above, with turned balusters. Some important Bethersden marble chimney pieces in situ. The Banqueting Hall in the wing by Baker was originally a swimming pool, a copy of Caligula's baths at Carrara. (See B.O.E. Kent. II, 27405, and C.L. Vol. 55, 1939). Listing NGR: TR0669553487 (20)
A watching brief carried out in 2001 during ground works suggested that the mound in which the castle sits is a modified natural mound rather than being entirely artificial (21)
Le Evans Partnership Chartered Architects and Planning Consultants, 1993, Stable Court, Chilham Castle (Unpublished document). SKE6796.
2003, Chilham Castle, Kent: Historic Landscape Survey & Restoration Proposals. Appendix B of Countryside Stewardship Application (Unpublished document). SKE17695.
<1> O S 6" 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE47762.
<2> Ant J 8, 1928, 350-3 (plans, illusts) (A W Clapham) (OS Card Reference). SKE33223.
<3> Arch J 86, 1930, 302-6 (plans) (A W Clapham) (OS Card Reference). SKE36746.
<4> Castles of G B 1953, 104 (S Toy) (OS Card Reference). SKE38638.
<5> F1 ASP 17-MAY-63 (OS Card Reference). SKE42153.
<6> DOE (HHR) Boro of Ashford, Kent Aug 1984, 24-25 (OS Card Reference). SKE39836.
<7> B O E NE & E Kent 1983, 273-5 (J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37428.
<8> Castellarium Anglicanum 1, 1983, 228-229 (D J Cathcart-King) (OS Card Reference). SKE38608.
<9> Country Life 55, 1924, 1000-6 (C Hussey) (OS Card Reference). SKE39446.
<10> Ants of Eng and Wales 2, 1774 (F Grose) (OS Card Reference). SKE33307.
<11> V C H Kent 1, 1908, 412 (OS Card Reference). SKE50714.
<12> Arch Cant 29, 1911, 228 (OS Card Reference). SKE34974.
<13> The Eng Castle 1936, 44-8 (H Braun) (OS Card Reference). SKE50338.
<14> Hist of the Kings Works 2, 1963, 613 (OS Card Reference). SKE44037.
<15> Norman Domestic Archit 1974, 36 (M Wood) (OS Card Reference). SKE47679.
<16> Ind Arch of S E England 1978, 32 (A J Haselfoot) (OS Card Reference). SKE44213.
<17> Field report for monument TR 05 SE 3 - May, 1963 (Bibliographic reference). SKE5210.
<18> ["ANTIQUITIES OF CHILHAM"] (Collection). SKE6546.
<19> Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage (Unpublished document). SKE6956.
<20> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.
<21> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2002, An Archaeological watching brief in the outer grounds of Chilham Castle, Chilham, Kent (Unpublished document). SKE57608.
Sources/Archives (23)
- --- SKE17695 Unpublished document: 2003. Chilham Castle, Kent: Historic Landscape Survey & Restoration Proposals. Appendix B of Countryside Stewardship Application.
- --- SKE6796 Unpublished document: Le Evans Partnership Chartered Architects and Planning Consultants. 1993. Stable Court, Chilham Castle.
- <1> SKE47762 OS Card Reference: O S 6" 1961.
- <2> SKE33223 OS Card Reference: Ant J 8, 1928, 350-3 (plans, illusts) (A W Clapham).
- <3> SKE36746 OS Card Reference: Arch J 86, 1930, 302-6 (plans) (A W Clapham).
- <4> SKE38638 OS Card Reference: Castles of G B 1953, 104 (S Toy).
- <5> SKE42153 OS Card Reference: F1 ASP 17-MAY-63.
- <6> SKE39836 OS Card Reference: DOE (HHR) Boro of Ashford, Kent Aug 1984, 24-25.
- <7> SKE37428 OS Card Reference: B O E NE & E Kent 1983, 273-5 (J Newman).
- <8> SKE38608 OS Card Reference: Castellarium Anglicanum 1, 1983, 228-229 (D J Cathcart-King).
- <9> SKE39446 OS Card Reference: Country Life 55, 1924, 1000-6 (C Hussey).
- <10> SKE33307 OS Card Reference: Ants of Eng and Wales 2, 1774 (F Grose).
- <11> SKE50714 OS Card Reference: V C H Kent 1, 1908, 412.
- <12> SKE34974 OS Card Reference: Arch Cant 29, 1911, 228.
- <13> SKE50338 OS Card Reference: The Eng Castle 1936, 44-8 (H Braun).
- <14> SKE44037 OS Card Reference: Hist of the Kings Works 2, 1963, 613.
- <15> SKE47679 OS Card Reference: Norman Domestic Archit 1974, 36 (M Wood).
- <16> SKE44213 OS Card Reference: Ind Arch of S E England 1978, 32 (A J Haselfoot).
- <17> SKE5210 Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TR 05 SE 3 - May, 1963.
- <18> SKE6546 Collection: ["ANTIQUITIES OF CHILHAM"].
- <19> SKE6956 Unpublished document: Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders. 2001. Kent's Defence Heritage.
- <20>XY SKE16160 Map: English Heritage. List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest. [Mapped feature: #22266 castle, ]
- <21> SKE57608 Unpublished document: Canterbury Archaeological Trust. 2002. An Archaeological watching brief in the outer grounds of Chilham Castle, Chilham, Kent.
Finds (0)
Protected Status/Designation
Related Monuments/Buildings (1)
Related Events/Activities (4)
- Intrusive Event: CHILHAM CASTLE (Ref: EI 14669) (EKE3770)
- Intrusive Event: Excavation, Chilham Castle, 1926 (Ref: EI 14670) (EKE3771)
- Intrusive Event: Observations maintained during Metal Detector Rally at Chilham Castle (EKE21078)
- Intrusive Event: Watching brief within Chilham Castle Gardens (EKE21079)
Related Thematic Articles (1)
Record last edited
May 21 2025 2:46PM