insideKENT Magazine Issue 61 - April 2017 | Page 66

VISITKENT
© Darryl Curcher

CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE

NESTLED IN IDYLLIC COUNTRYSIDE IN THE KENT WEALD, AWARD-WINNING CHIDDINGSTONE CASTLE OFFERS A MEMORABLE DAY OUT FOR ALL THE FAMILY. THE FORMER HOME OF THE LATE ANTIQUARIAN DENYS EYRE BOWER, THE CASTLE NOW HOUSES HIS FASCINATING EGYPTIAN, BUDDHIST, JACOBEAN, STUART AND JAPANESE COLLECTIONS INCLUDING INCREDIBLE SAMURAI ARMOUR AND SWORDS AND TREASURES FROM ANCIENT EGYPT. DISCOVER VICTORIAN‘ UPSTAIRS DOWNSTAIRS’ ROOMS AND ENJOY A STROLL IN 35 ACRES OF BEAUTIFUL GROUNDS COMPLETE WITH A LAKE, A COURTYARD ROSE GARDEN, WOODLAND WALKS AND HERBACEOUS BORDERS.
The delightful Tea Room located in the former Buttery also has sunny courtyard seating and serves delicious homemade cakes, traditional cream teas and light lunches, and a visit to the unique Well Tower Gift Shop complements every visit.
The Castle is open 11am to 5pm Sunday to Wednesday from April to the end of October.
Terry Waite © Gemma Levine
Every year the Castle hosts a long list of Special Events to suit all ages – including the Summer Vintage Fair in June, the Ancient Egyptian Activity Day in August, the Country Fair in September and the Chiddingstone Castle School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in October.
The second annual Chiddingstone Castle Literary Festival is to be held over the first May Bank Holiday Weekend and offers something for everyone. Highlights for 2017 include talks by Terry Waite, Alison Weir, Artemis Cooper, Sir Anthony Seldon, Nicholas Crane and Rev Richard Coles; and for families and children there are appearances from prize-winning authors Piers Torday and Lauren St John as well as a performance of The Ugly Duckling by award-winning theatre company Pericles, along with storytelling shows from Mr Dilly’ s World of Wonder and Really Big Pants Theatre Company. The festival is expanding with the addition of a second marquee providing a space for workshops, storytelling, Sock Puppet Theatre and much more. Book your tickets now via the Castle’ s website.
Chiddingstone Castle Hill Hoath Road Chiddingstone Edenbridge TN8 7AD 01892 870347 events @ chiddingstonecastle. org. uk www. chiddingstonecastle. org. uk
Reg. Charity No. 291203
66