However, when we open our doors for weddings, film shoots, and boat tours, we are committed to maintaining the highest service standards and ensuring our guests feel welcomed and cared for. The castle is also surrounded by beautifully restored gardens, featuring ornamental ponds and fountains, Italian gardens, Lavender walk, rose arbor with temple and a walled Tiltyard garden. For enquiries, please see our dedicated film shoot page. Twilight Wedding Ceremony from 4:30 pm to 6 pm in the Great Hall with up to 100 guests and garden access for photographs. Fabulous location, wonderful organisation and great food. The first castle on the site was an unauthorised fortification, built during "The Anarchy" (1135-1153) and t orn down later in the century when royal control was reasserted. It is named after Sophia Rawdon-Hastings, the widow of the 2nd Marquess of Bute who oversaw the creation of the park, which was built to compensate for the withdrawal in 1855 of public access to Cooper's Field and Castle Green. It is not open to the public The only remains of the original castle is a section of wall and the kitchen fireplace built in 1174. Teresa, who makes sure the paperwork gets done and our diaries are synced. [9], Most of the Great Hall and the north-east wing were destroyed in a disastrous fire in the second half of the 16th century. The Wyatt family acquired the castle in 1491 and converted it into a mansion house. He undertook major alterations, dividing the courtyard into two unequal parts by constructing a two-storeyed building which contained what may have been one of the first long galleries in England. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. For non-UK citizens, we require copies of two foreign passports. The trip is by boat on the Kentish Lady which only adds to the charm of the visit. Around 1600, two farm houses were subsequently built in the grounds of Allington Castle while the rest of the castle gradually fell into ruin. Estate Manager Craig Bruun and Events Manager Kerrie Gibbons look forward to discussing your film and television shoot requirements. Pettigrew's account mentions the presence of flower beds in the park and bridges over the lake and that a fountain was erected in the park around 1859. A must see, you will not pleased with what you see. A map based searching tool all our locations, Oswald, Arthur {Country Houses of Kent} (London: Country Life, 1933), Smithers, David Waldron {Castles in Kent} (Chatham: John Hallwell Publications, 1980), {The Kent GardKent County Council Planning Department {The Kent Gardens Compendium} (Canterbury: Kent County Council, 1996) 4, Newman, J. Managed to visit this beautiful castle while attending a wedding, the grounds were amazing and you were able to walk around these in the evening. A lodge was present on the north side of the Sophia Close turning circle which is still extant, having been converted into a wine bar. It took our breath away, and for a moment we were speechless. Henry VII visited it during Wyatt's tenure. Cardiff Local Studies Library. In January 1537 Henry VIII decided to send him as resident ambassador to the Emperor and . Glamorgan Cricket Club transferred their ground from Cardiff Arms Park to the north end of Sophia Gardens recreation ground in 1966. With its breathtaking architecture and picturesque surroundings, its no wonder that our castle has become synonymous with Kents cinematic charm. 07920832611. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. The Wyatt family acquired the castle in 1491 and converted it into a mansion house. Visited the castle on a Kentish Lady boat trip from Maidstone. A gatehouse, incorporating the remains of the original manor house from which the castle developed, stands on the north-west side. The only remains of the original castle is a section of wall and the kitchen fireplace built in 1174. The barn, which can be used as a resting and eating place for crews and cast. The range dividing the two courtyards contains the Long Gallery on the upper floor, with offices below. The area had always been at risk of flooding, serious floods having occurred in the 20th century in 1927, the 1960s and 1979; the latter prompted the instigation of an extensive flood protection scheme in 1982, when the present day river banks were engineered. Parts of this site are open to the public. Allington Castle is a private residence. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. Required fields are marked *. Ask Kerrie or Craig to show you when you do your viewing. Find the travel option that best suits you. Recommended, A fantastic experience to see the castle at Allington and its wonderful gardens. It's been suggested that Sir Martin Conway's restoration of Allington Castle (converting it from a derelict medieval castle into a modern country house using his wealthy wife's money) was the model for Dreever Castle in P.G. You can find out more about . Allington Castle Map - Castle - Maidstone, United Kingdom - Mapcarta We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. . Pettigrew, A. Various alterations and expansions were made . A beautiful Steinway piano is available for your chosen pianist to play, adding an extra touch of sophistication to your event. The area can be accessed from Cowbridge Road East adjacent to the river (The Taff Trail, here on a raised flood bank adjacent the river) and further west via the former main gates of the old park. The castle is privately owned, so access is limited to certain pre arranged trips. PLEASE NOTE: Allington Castle is a Private Residence and is NOT open to the public. Everyone off site by midnight. Allington Castle is a private residence. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. The National Sports Centre for Wales (now Sport Wales National Centre) and associated car park and hockey and football pitches was constructed on the remainder of the recreation ground and was officially opened by Prince Charles on June 12th 1972. The first castle was built by William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey during the reign of King Stephen in the first half of the 12th century. We can also do buffet-style in-house catering for smaller parties. . Allington Castle is a one thousand year-old edifice and is oozing with history. I went on a trip arranged through the Kentish Lady River Tours. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. With its breathtaking architecture and picturesque surroundings, its no wonder that our castle has become synonymous with Kents cinematic charm. Offered weekly during the summer, the private Kentish Lady boat tours provide a special chance for our devoted garden team to display their commitment and expertise in preserving the stunning splendour of Allington Castles grounds and its varied wildlife. Welcome to Allington Castle - A Historic Kent Castle and Upmarket Wedding Venue Kent's Allington Castle is a medieval 12th-century castle nestled in 42 acres of picturesque woodland on the banks of the Medway River, located about three miles northwest of Maidstone. Allington Castle Castle Road Near River Medway, Maidstone ME16 0ND England Best nearby Restaurants 247 within 3 miles The Yew Tree Inn 943 0.5 mi$$ - $$$ Bar British Pub The Little Old Toll House 85 0.3 mi$$ - $$$ Quick Bites British Vegetarian Friendly The Running Horse Harvester 928 0.2 mi$ British Grill Vegetarian Friendly Previous Post Previous String Quartet in the Italian Gardens. The two guides were very informative and kept the group engaged. To learn more about how we handle your personal information and protect your privacy, please review our privacy policy. Allington Castle is not open to the public - so the only way to get a glimpse of this stunning building is from the River Park. The Great Hall was rebuilt by 1927, and the restoration of the north-east wing was completed by 1932. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Our castle, with its manicured gardens, fountains, great hall, long gallery, battlements, portcullis, moat, castle towers, and fairy-tale charm, provides a unique and versatile atmosphere for your castle The castle before restoration goes back to 1281 when Stephen de Penchester was granted a licence to embattle the manor house at Allington. The Taff Trail from Cardiff to Brecon also passes through the park. Kent's Most Exclusive Wedding Venue and Film Location. It was saved and restored by the efforts of Sir Martin Conway and his wife during the first half of the century. Allington Castle Castle Road Near River Medway, Maidstone ME16 0ND England Best nearby Restaurants 247 within 3 miles The Yew Tree Inn 943 0.5 mi - Bar British Pub The Little Old Toll House 85 0.3 mi - Quick Bites British Vegetarian Friendly The Running Horse Harvester 928 0.2 mi British Grill Vegetarian Friendly The future of Allington now seems assured. North-east of the SWALEC Stadium there is a stone wall which marks the boundary of Sophia Gardens. Corbens, a local building firm, was hired to carry out the work and provided traditional craftsmen to undertake the restoration in an architecturally and historically sympathetic style. We walked by the river from Maidstone to Aylesford, a town far prettier than Maidstone, and back (about 16kms). If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Enquiries can be made by visiting allington-castle.com You can book a private visit with the Kentish Lady boat company, but the don't do them often. There is a photograph of the south lodge on the Cardiff Library website where it is stated that it was damaged by a bomb during World War 2. [4], The interior of the castle was once a single large open space, but is divided into a large outer and a smaller inner courtyard. Hiring Allington Castle for Your Corporate Event For nearly 50 years, the castle was the home of a Carmelite convent. Allington castle tour with the kentish lady. The river walk was very good, though. Kent's Most Exclusive Wedding Venue and Film Location, Your email address will not be published. Country House: Yes The House from a 1923 postcard . The castle is nestled in 42 acres next to the Medway river it is surrounded by a moat and fronted by two lakes which are split by a causeway leading you the castle gates. It works really well as a combination although its a little pricy. [5], His son, the poet Thomas Wyatt, was born there in 1503, but in 1554 Thomas Wyatt the younger forfeited the castle after his unsuccessful rebellion against Queen Mary. It is a grade I listed building and is used as a wedding venue, though there is no public access other than occasional tours involving trips from Maidstone town centre on the Kentish Lady river boat. Allington Castle - Maidstone - Parks & Gardens It is not open to the public. Italian gardens, Lavender walk, rose arbor with temple and a walled Tiltyard garden. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. The extensive gardens are a photographic dream set out in a Medieval style with Italian gardens, Lavender walk, Parterre, Courtyard & formal ponds. . The castle can be seen from Allington Path the stretch of towpath betweenthe marina and the lock. He was dissuaded by opposition from local residents, notably the Rector of the nearby Church of St. Lawrence, but by this time the castle was totally ruined. Ask PaulG3835 about Allington Castle . The moat surrounding the castle was once flooded and was crossed by a drawbridge, with a portcullis closing the entrance to the castle. The building's development was continued in the early 13th century by Sir Henry de Cobham, incorporating the remains of the old manor house into the new castle. [8] The Bests were Catholics and used a room in the east tower as their private chapel. The interiors are fully furnished and in character with its Medieval origins, with Tapestries, antique furniture and Great Hall in whom Henry VIII & Anne Boleyn dinned with Sir Thomas Wyatt around 1530.