An early and well-preserved example of a small free-standing Norman tower keep, surviving almost to its original height. It was probably built c. 1080 by Gundulf, Bishop of Rochester, and takes its name from a chapel of St Leonard which once stood nearby. Mr. Clark states that St. Leonard’s Tower is interesting as being one […]
Sissinghurst Castle
The National Trust took over the whole of Sissinghurst, its garden, farm and buildings, in 1967. The garden epitomises the English garden of the mid-20th century. This internationally renowned garden was developed by Vita Sackville-West and Sir Harold Nicolson around the surviving parts of an Elizabethan mansion. It comprises small enclosed compartments, with colour throughout […]
Shurland Castle
Remains at Shurland House. Not open to the public. In the parish of Eastchurch, in the Isle of Sheppey, lying E. of Minster on high ground, is the mansion of Shurland, once apparently a grand and spacious building, reared on the site of a former castle, the manor of Shurland having anciently owners of this […]
Sandwich Castle
The earliest reference to a castle at Sandwich, the premier port of England at one time, was in the reign of Edward I (1272‚1307 ) when a bailiff or royal official was appointed by the King . The documentary sources say that the castle was ‘ newly erected’ around AD1290. A local amateur archaeologist Mr […]
Sandown Castle
Today all that remains of Sandown Castle is part of the west side of the castle including bastions and a section of the central tower. Remains of the castle have been incorporated into the sea defences. Sandown is one of the principal coast defences constructed by Henry VIII. at the time when a foreign invasion […]