Chiddingstone Castle

Since 1977, the castle and its 35 acres (14 hectares) of grounds have been held in trust for the nation by the Denys Eyre Bower Bequest, and both are open to the public.

The first significant building to occupy the site of the castle was a timber-framed dwelling, inhabited from the early 16th century by Richard Streatfeild, an iron master and wool merchant.

[5] In 1955, the castle was purchased by Denys Eyre Bower (1905–1977), a former bank clerk and antiques dealer, in order to display his collections.

Bower initially worked as a bank clerk before taking over Cavendish Hood antiques dealers in Baker Street, London in 1943.

[6] The redevelopment of Baker Street led to Bower moving to Chiddingstone Castle where he intended to show his collections to the public.

This trust continues to care for the castle and its collection, opening it to the public and providing a venue for weddings, and the current trustees include descendants of the Streatfeild family.

[17] His collecting in this area included portraits of members of the House of Stuart, swords, objects with hidden Jacobite symbols and royal manuscripts.