VENUES
Chiddingstone Castle by Ian Colin Ross Photography
A SOVEREIGN SETTING
WHAT COULD BE MORE MAJESTIC THAN GETTING MARRIED IN A ROYAL SETTING ? KENT BOASTS A NUMBER OF ELEGANT CASTLES , EACH WITH THEIR OWN FASCINATING HISTORY AND ROYAL CONNECTIONS . HERE , WE EXPLORE EACH VENUE ’ S REGAL PAST .
CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE Chiddingstone Castle is an award- winning Grade II listed historic house set in 35 acres of Kentish countryside with far-reaching views . Situated in the historic village of Chiddingstone ( most of which , aside from the school , church and castle is owned by the National Trust ), the castle has Tudor origins , but was remodelled in the 19th century to resemble a medieval castle . TV and radio presenter Dermot O ’ Leary held his wedding at the castle in 2013 and the stunning building has also been used as a filming location for many programmes and films .
Royal Connections : Chiddingstone Castle was built by the Streatfeild family and served as their seat from the early 16th century until the beginning of the 20th century . The Streatfields were an aristocratic English family of the landed gentry , and were significant landowners in Sussex , Surrey and Kent .
It was later owned by Lord Astor , who was an Olympic gold-medallist and owner of The Times newspaper among other pursuits .
TONBRIDGE CASTLE Situated right in the heart of Tonbridge town , just metres from the High Street , Tonbridge Castle is thought to have been built by Norman lord Richard FitzGilbert , soon after the invasion of 1066 .
Now a public attraction and stunning wedding venue , the castle hosts weddings in its authentic medieval great hall and its classical chamber room , and gives couples the chance to feel like royalty on their special day .
Royal Connections : Richard FitzGilbert ( later known as de Clare ) was Tonbridge Castle ’ s original proprietor , and his family became one of the most influential in England , with close connections to the Royal Family at the time . When Tonbridge Castle was mostly destroyed during a besiege , King Henry III gave Richard the licence to wall and embattle Tonbridge .
In 1520 , Henry VIII took possession of the castle , and gifted it to his noble friends , and in 1600 , Thomas Weller bought the castle , but the civil war saw an end to the castle being used as a defence .
The castle was opened to the public during Queen Victoria ’ s reign , and was then used during WWII to provide aid to the local community .
LEEDS CASTLE One of the most iconic castles in Britain , Leeds Castle is a popular choice for a real fairytale castle wedding . With its regal setting overlooking the moat and extensive grounds , it ’ s a prestigious wedding venue with an impressive royal past .
Royal Connections : Leeds Castle has a long and rich royal history . It had its first royal owners as early as the 13th century when it was the property of Queen Eleanor of Castile , who then bequeathed it to her husband Edward I upon her death in 1290 .
It was then gifted to Edward ’ s next wife , Queen Margaret of France , and this began the tradition of the Castle forming part of the ‘ dower ’ or personal property of the Queen , to be retained even after the King ’ s death .
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