About us

An historic house in West Kent with 400 years of history and a collection of Ancient Egyptian, Japanese, Jacobite and Stuart, and Buddhist objects.

The experience

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A Grade II* historic house

Explore the collections rooms, Great Hall, Victorian Kitchen, Library, Servant’s Hall and discover the history of the castle in the Streatfeild Room.

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World-renowned collections

Highlights from the Ancient Egyptian, Japanese, Buddhist, and Jacobite and Stuart collections of Denys Eyre Bower are on display throughout the Castle.

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25 acres of informal grounds

Far reaching views of the Greensand Ridge, below the North Downs, an Ancient Egyptian-inspired grass maze, an avenue of Japanese cherry blossom trees and a Victorian Orangery.

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Take a tour above the Castle

Fly over the grounds.

PLAN A VISIT

Denys Eyre Bower by Dame Laura Knight, RA

A Collector’s Home

Chiddingstone Castle has Tudor origins, Victorian rooms and was remodelled in the 19th century to resemble a medieval castle. It has been owned and lived in by an eclectic mix of people: the Streatfeild family, Lord Astor, military forces during WWII, Long Dene School and the collector Denys Eyre Bower.

In 1955, Bower bought Chiddingstone Castle to house his extensive collections of art and antiquities. His dream was to share his collections with the nation and to preserve them for future generations. After his death in 1977, a charitable trust was set up to honour his wish.

“It is my wish that the collections be kept intact in their present setting so that future generations may enjoy them as I do now.”
Denys Eyre Bower