The stone walls of Walmer Castle were put up in the 1530's at the same time as Sandown and Deal as part of a plan by the monarch to improve England's coastal defences. Henry VIII felt England to be vulnerable against the threat of French invasion.
The castle is built to a quatrefoil plan with a cylindrical central tower. It has been the official home of the warden of the Cinque Ports since the early 18th century when it was modernised for residential use.
Over the decades many colourful and illustrious people have lived within its hallowed walls, these include - William Pitt who was Lord Warden between 1792 and 1806, and the Iron Duke of Wellington who was warden during the 1830's and 1840's. The castle that we see today is decorated after the style adopted at the time of Wellington's tenure, and contains a collection of memorabilia related to him.
Visitors will also see a Pitt room showing mementoes of his occupation and some of his personal belongings. The gardens are the work of Pitt's niece, Lady Hester Stanhope. Hester was an eccentric human being who travelled widely and is perhaps best remembered for her wanderings in the Middle East.
Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were entertained at Walmer, and the rooms used by them have been preserved to appear very much as they did then.
In recent times e.g. 1941, Winston Churchill was conferred Warden, however the great man refused to take up residence there for fear on being in the line of enemy guns and the castle being destroyed. Instead he handed it to the nation.
Queen Elizabeth, the late Queen Mother was appointed Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports and it is quite possible that she entertained there.
The pleasant gardens surrounding the castle show a formal garden, a kitchen garden, and the dried out moat is planted with fragrant flowers and plants. The gardens look glorious when the early spring flowers are in bloom, there is a wild garden, and in the Queen Mother's garden there is a shaded pool where you can almost imagine her sitting casting around a glance of approval and sealing it with a wave of her regal hand.
Walmer Castle is open to public view, it is an enchanting romantic place which offers a pleasant few hours to all the family.
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