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About Tonbridge Castle
A fire in 1088 destroyed the first castle at Tonbridge, and the evocative remains we see today are of a later castle which was considered to be one of the finest examples of a Motte and Bailey Castle in Kent.
Little survives of its curtain walls, nor its keep but the splendid gatehouse built in the 13th-century remains remarkably intact, and serves as a stark reminder of 900 years of history involving kings, queens, archbishops, plotters and peacemakers, all of whom have dwelt within the castles once sturdy walls.
The castle was built in the 11th-century, it was further re-enforced in the 13th-century when the gatehouse was added. The deClare's were the original owners of the castle, and here they lavishly entertained Edward I. The castle reflects the friendship between the king and the de Clare's, it appears to have been modelled on Edward's great fortress at Caerphilly.
The quiet location beside the River Medway belies the castle's turbulent history. The de Clare's were a fighting breed who mostly met untimely deaths in battle. The first Richard de Clare died during a siege in Normandy, and the line died out when the last of the de Clares died in the Battle of Bannockburn. Others heirs met a similar fate. The castle passed to the Stafford family, from whence it frequently passed back and forth between the Crown and the Stafford's. Henry Stafford was executed by King Richard III, and his son was put to death by orders of Henry VIII. So the history of Tonbridge is undeniably bloody.
At the end of the Civil War the castle began to fall into disrepair, it had a series of owners, one built the spectacular Georgian mansion near the east wall of the gatehouse. However, until quite recently not a great deal was achieved. The castle is now in the ownership of Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council who have done much to protect the castle for posterity and the enjoyment of everyone.
Tonbridge Castle stands in picturesque 14-acre grounds looking benignly over the Medway. It is open all the year round and admission if free of charge. It offers a magnificent portrayal of life in the castle through exhibitions, and an Audio-Visual display tells of the castle's turbulent history. Ruinous Tonbridge Castle is both atmospheric and unique, an excellent day out for all the family.
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Recommended towns & villages near Tonbridge Castle | (0.4 miles, 0.7 km) Fine streets show a rich variety of architecture including typical Wealden tile-hung properties, and handsome Georgian and Victorian buildings dominating the river scene... Information | Pictures (29) | Hotels | Holiday Cottages |  | (4.9 miles, 7.9 km, direction S) Also known as Royal Tunbridge Wells and only a short distance from London, this popular spa town gained a reputation as the place to see and be seen during Georgian Times frequented by royalty and fashionable members of aristocracy. It also happens to be surrounded by some of the most beautiful countryside in England. .. Information | Pictures (54) | Hotels | Holiday Cottages |  | (5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction W) Fascinating village, owned by the National Trust which is crammed with beautiful properties from the 16th and 17th-century probably built with iron-industry money... Information | Pictures (19) | Hotels | Holiday Cottages |  | (6.6 miles, 10.6 km, direction SE) Brenchley is a beautiful "showpiece" village full of picturesque Tudor cottages, complimented by houses from the Regency and Victorian periods... Information | Pictures (8) | Hotels | Holiday Cottages |  | (7.0 miles, 11.3 km, direction SW) In an area of attractive, outstanding villages, Groombridge with its 18th-century tiled cottages against the back-drop of a beautiful village green, stands out as being the very epitome of the perfect English village... Information | Pictures (1) | Hotels | Holiday Cottages |
All towns in KentComplete A to Z of towns in EnglandRecommended attractions near Tonbridge Castle | (4.0 miles, 6.5 km, direction N) This 14th century moated manor house, set in a hollow and partly surrounded by woods, serves as a powerful reminder of the past. ..... Information | Pictures (61) | Hotels |  | (4.1 miles, 6.6 km, direction SW) A beautiful Medieval Manor House set in 11 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, which date back to 1346. The manor House has..... Information | Pictures (72) | Hotels |  | (4.7 miles, 7.5 km, direction NE) Remains of a late 13th-century knight's dwelling... Information | Hotels |  | (5.1 miles, 8.2 km, direction NW) This is one of England's most glorious houses. Set as it is in the midst of a magnificent park studded with ancient trees, the..... Information | Pictures (32) | Hotels |  | (5.7 miles, 9.2 km, direction W) .. Information | Pictures (5) | Hotels |
All attractions in KentComplete A to Z of attractions in EnglandHotels near Tonbridge CastleHotels near Tonbridge Castle Cottages near Tonbridge Castle Bed & Breakfast near Tonbridge Castle  |  Best Western The Rose And Crown HotelTonbridge, Kent, England (0.4 miles, 0.6 km)
The Best Western Rose & Crown Hotel is an old English coaching Inn, set in the heart of Tonbridge. Located in the middle of Tonbridge High Street, and opposite the Ancient Castle and Tonbridge Public ...
More info and book online.. Price from £49.00 |  | Premier Inn Tonbridge NorthTonbridge, Kent, England (0.5 miles, 0.9 km)
Ideally located, Premier Inn Tonbridge North is next to the Oast Theatre, just 2 miles (3.2km) from Hildenborough Train Station and Tonbridge Castle. Tonbridge town centre is nearby....
More info and book online.. Price from £55.00 |  | Premier Inn TonbridgeTonbridge, Kent, England (1.3 miles, 2.1 km, direction SE)
Ideally located, Premier Inn Tonbridge is a short walk from Tonbridge Train Station and near Tonbridge Castle, providing the perfect base from which to explore the surrounding area....
More info and book online.. Price from £55.00 |  |  The Carpenters ArmsTonbridge, Kent, England (2.2 miles, 3.5 km, direction NE)
The privately owned Carpenters Arms is a brand new hotel with a reputation as a high-standard gastro pub, producing great food and serving customers in a warm, friendly manner....
More info and book online.. Price from £70.00 |  | Innkeeper's Lodge Tunbridge Wells, SouthboroughSouthborough, Kent, England (2.5 miles, 4.1 km, direction S)
Innkeeper's Lodge Tunbridge Wells, Southborough is a restored 18th-century lodge, set within the High Weald Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty....
More info and book online.. Price from £69.00 |
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