Chiddingstone Castle
Chiddingstone Castle is run by a charitable trust and welcomes you to the historic house and the fascinating collections of Japanese, Stuart and Jacobite, Ancient Egyptian, and Buddhist art and artefacts.
‘The Streatfeild Room’ can be found on the first floor and exhibits the complete history of the Castle from its origins in the 16th century, as well as the history of the Tudor village of Chiddingstone.
Enjoy the Victorian ‘upstairs downstairs’ experience at the Castle, with rooms open to the public showing the Victorian and Edwardian heritage of this historic building. These include the Castle Kitchen with a host of Victorian kitchenalia on display, Scullery and Housekeeper’s Room, Servants’ Hall and Servant’s Attic Bedroom, the latter can only be reached via a hidden spiral staircase and this can be arranged for groups of 10 or more.
See the amazing artefacts collected by the gifted antiquarian Denys Eyre Bower, who left his collections for the nation to enjoy after his death in 1977. Discover Japanese Samurai swords, armour and lacquer ware, together with fascinating antiquities from Ancient Egypt. There are also paintings of the Stuart monarchs, Jacobite manuscripts and treasures, and a unique Buddhist collection to explore. A number of themed rooms, including Denys’ study, complete with personal letters detailing his complicated private life which featured a notorious scandal and imprisonment, are open for visitors to walk round.
The grounds are open every day of the year (subject to weddings and private parties), providing enchanting woodland walks, a fishing lake and spectacular views across the Kent countryside for all. Please donate £3 or more in the honesty box at the car park.
Our quintessential Tea Room in a pretty vintage setting offers homemade cakes, scones and light lunches, traditional English afternoon tea and cream teas. Sit in the Victorian Room by the range, grab a table in the Grade II listed Courtyard or find a spot by the walled garden overlooking the South lawns.
Please go to our What’s On page to book for our popular summer outdoor events throughout the season – from literary to jazz in all its guises, theatre for families and Shakespeare fans alike, the pick of opera favourites, tribute bands and many Japanese cultural events to reflect our wonderful collection.
