Old Scotney Castle - Tonbridge Wells

 

Old Scotney Castle 

Date: September 2023  

Location: Tonbridge Wells

Abandoned or Public : Public  

Delmoished: No

Since we had NT passes, we decided to visit Scotney Castle. We were not particularly interested in the manor house, so we went directly to the old castle ruins. We spent about 20 minutes observing the fish in the pond before exploring the ruins. We spent a full hour exploring the ruins and learning about their history., As we were heading back up to the carpark, we stopped off at the park. However, we were only there for about 15 minutes before the heavens opened up and it started to rain heavily. It's always important to check the weather before going out. 

This charming castle, built in 1137, is now in ruins and dates back to medieval times.

Between 1835 and 1843, a new manor house was built at the top and became known as Scontney Castle.

In 2007, the site owned by National Trust was opened to the public.

Tonbridge Castle - Tonbridge

 Tonbridge Castle

Date: September 2023

Location: Tonbridge 

Abandoned or Public: Public 

Delmoished: No

In 2023, we had Tonbridge Castle on our list of places to visit. However, when we planned to go during the summer holidays, we found out that the site was closed. Therefore, we had to wait for it to re-open. Finally, upon arrival, we saw that there was a car park conveniently located right next to the castle. Additionally, we were pleasantly surprised to find out that parking was free on Sundays. After parking, we entered the castle grounds and paid £9.20 per adult. Children under 5 had free admission.

It takes approximately one hour to fully explore the castle grounds. Upon payment, you will receive an audio guide. After heading back to the castle, use the throb to open the door and enter the castle. Although the grounds are open to everyone, once inside, it is recommended to start by exploring the basement before moving back up. The castle is well-maintained and full of interesting features..

According to the Tonbridge Castle website, this castle dates back to the 13th century and is also known as de Clare. It was not lived in from 1521 to the mid-15th century but was only used for a short time due to the civil war. In 1793, a mansion was added and the castle became Grade 1 listed. In 1900, the castle was purchased by the local council.

Historic dockyard Visit 2 - Chatham Medway

 Historic Dockyard 

Date: September 

Location: Chatham 

Abandoned or Public: Public 

Delmoished:  No 

This was our second visit to the dockyard. It was meant to be a quick trip, but we ended up spending over five hours there. Our three-year-old played in the soft play area at the café for about an hour. We also did the Octonauts Trail, which was great fun for young kids. Just be sure to check if it's available, as it only runs in half terms.

During our visit, we were able to explore the boat and the rope room, which we didn't have enough time for last time. It was very interesting to see the big boat and learn about how people lived on it, but we noticed that the very lower level was closed off. We're not sure if it's always been like this or not. The rope room was also fascinating as we got to see how rope was made in a massive room. Additionally, you can book rope experiences for free.