Pictures of Allington Castle

a Castle in the town of Allington, in the county of Kent

About Allington Castle

This small 13th century castle standing on the banks of the River Medway is now home to a group of Carmelite nuns. Historically, it has always been a place of peace, one of the few castle's never to have been attacked or besieged.

The castle is moated with corner towers set around a rectangular enclosure, it quite possibly replaces an earlier structure of the 11th century which would have been built from wood. In 1281 Stephen of Penchester was granted a licence to crenellate by Edward I and built a stone castle. Some of the original building work survives today in the form of herringbone pattern in parts of the walls. Three hundred years later Allington Castle was converted into a comfortable fortified mansion.

In the early part of the 17th century the building was ravaged by fire, what was left later served as a farmhouse. In the 20th century the building came into the hands of explorer Sir Martin Conway, who spent time restoring it.

Visitors to the area are able to view the exterior, but the interior of Allington Castle is purely private used as a home, conference centre and retreat by the Order of Carmelites.

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Nearby travel help

M20 Junction 6	(0.8 miles, 1.3 km)
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