[AJR]

One of my recent purchases.

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[Gordon]

Cracking colours, great sunset.

[Laureen]

That is really nice.

[Gordon]

From Pettifer, English Castles

Quote

ALLINGTON CASTLE stands beside the River Medway about a mile north of Maidstone. This beautiful, moated castle seems perfect, but the perfection has been contrived in modern times. A Norman castle here was destroyed by Henry 11 after the revolt of 1173-74. The low mound immediately south-west of the present castle represents the motte and some herringbone masonry is visible in the curtain facing it. Other than that, the existing structure was built by Sir Stephen de Penchester Constable of Dover Castle and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports. He obtained licence to crenellate in 1281 and the original survives. His castle is characteristic of the Edwardian age but is not uncompromisingly military like the contemporay castles of Wales. In design it reflects the quadrangular layout which was becoming popular, but the rear bows outwards in a gentle curve and the distribution of towers is quite irregular. Five D-shaped towers of different sizes project from the curtain though one or two others existed originally. Solomon's Tower at the south corner is the largest and may be regarded as an early tower house. There is also a gatehouse flanked by simple half-round turrets (the machicolations above the gateway are modern). Some ruins of a barbican survive on the far side of the moat. The range on the south-west side of the courtyard, known as the Penchester Wing, may incorporate a slightly older manor house. However, once the castle was built the main apartments stood opposite, centred on a hall which still exists but is largely a reconstruction. Only its fifteenth century porch is authentic.

In 1492 Allington was granted to Sir Henry Wyatt in recognition of his loyalty to Henry VII. He upgraded the castle by building the narrow range which divides the courtyard into two unequal parts. Its upper floor forms a long gallery The picturesque, half-timbered house within the smaller enclosure also dates from the Wyatt period. Henry's son was Sir Thomas Wyatt, the poet. The next Sir Thomas organised an abortive rebellion against Queen Mary in 1554. After his execution the castle degenerated into a farmhouse and fell seriously into decay. Sir Martin Conway bought the castle in 1905 and spent the next thirty years restoring it. Much reconstruction was necessary: all the battlements are his work and the hall was rebuilt on the old lines. Today only the rear curtain is still in ruins. Since 1951 the castle has been a retreat house for the Carmelite friars of nearby Aylesford. This is a case of tit-for-tat, since the Wyatts of Allington obtained the original Aylesford Friary at the Dissolution.

Access.. Open regularly.

Reference.. BOE West Kent and the Weald. Guy. Souvenir guide.

Relations: For the Wyatt rebellion see Cooling. Compare the restorations of Hever and Lympne.

[AJR]

Another of my recent purchases - by William Tombleson, 1840.

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[Gordon]

Nice one.

[AJR]

An old print of Allington Castle from the mid-1800s, purchased today.

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[AJR]

Another vintage postcard of Allington Castle, added to my collection yesterday.

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[AJR]

Another engraving of Allington Castle, recently purchased, and dated 8th July 1772.

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