We look forward to welcoming you back to our historic house and the fascinating collections of Japanese, Stuart and Jacobite, Ancient Egyptian, and Buddhist art and artefacts. Last admission at 4:15pm. 

The Tea Room also opens from April 3rd Sunday - Wednesday. To book an Afternoon Tea or if you would like to book to reserve a space for larger parties please email us at hello@chiddingstonecastle.org.uk or phone us on 01892 870 347.

Kentish Opera presents Opera at the Castle, live at The Orangery.

Two performances at 2pm and 6pm

Bring your picnic blanket and chairs. Come early and enjoy the grounds and Tea Room.  You can also purchase tickets to view the House at the main door on the day to explore the eccentric collections of Denys Eyre Bower.  

The COALMINERS are dedicated to ‘Swamp Soul’. This brilliant band bring the rhythm and soul of New Orleans funk alive, playing songs ranging from Professor Longhair to Allen Toussaint, Mardi Gras parade anthems to Fats Domino Rock & Roll and the swampy funk of The Meters and Dr John. They take their name form the Toussaint/Dorsey classic ‘Working in A Coalmine’. 

1:30pm: Orangery Open. 2pm to 4.30pm: Showtime 

Bring your picnic blanket and chairs. Come early and enjoy the grounds and Tea Room.  You can also purchase tickets to view the House & Collections at the main door on the day.  Adult tickets: £17 each, Under 18s: £5 each, Under 5s: Free

Ian Morgan (our Japanese Collection Volunteer) will be giving a 30 minute talk on Samurai swords, Samurai armour, swordsmiths and how to become a master swordsmith in today’s Japan. This will be followed by a Q&A session.

Ian has previously given talks on both the Renaissance and the Medici. He was born and raised in Wales, married at Groombridge Place and now lives in Blackham. He has a huge interest in art and art history and spent time in Japan in 2019. He has ambitions to create a small Japanese Zen garden at home, if of course his wife will allow him.

 

100 years ago in 1922 the discovery of Tutankhamun’s Tomb inspired the young Denys Eyre Bower to collect Ancient Egyptian artefacts. You can see this work of a lifetime at the castle today. It is also 200 years since Egyptian hieroglyphs were deciphered with the help of the Rosetta Stone.

Chiddingstone Castle is proud to host expert talks and family activities for all ages to mark these discoveries with a celebration of the Ancient Egypt collection.

Join us for fun, interactive family tours of the Egyptian Room with our Curator Naomi, Children’s crafts (additional cost), Decipherment of Hieroglyphs talk by Dr John Baines, Tutankhamun talk by Mick Oakey and drop in object handling.

Celebrating the life-time genius of Stevie Wonder, the mesmeric vocalist, Noel McCalla, and award-winning saxophonist, Derek Nash, with a band on top of musicians, play a wide-ranging catalogue of Stevie Wonder’s classic hits. Noel McCalla is acclaimed as one of Britain’s best Soul Singers (Blues and Soul Magazine). Derek Nash has played in Jools Holland’s Band for many years and his own group, Sax Appeal, has both won and has been nominated for several British Jazz Awards.

1:30pm: Orangery Open. 2pm to 4.30pm: Showtime 

Bring your picnic blanket and chairs. Come early and enjoy the grounds and Tea Room.  You can also purchase tickets to view the House & Collections at the main door on the day.  Adult tickets: £22.50 each, Under 18s: £5 each, Under 5s: Free

Derek Nash’s Picante brings a Latin music vibe to The Orangery. Think Buena Vista Social Club, Sergio Mendes, Stan Getz, Astrid Gilberto and the Gypsy Kings. Mambo, Salsa, Samba and Bossa Nova styles. Dancing optional. In association with The Listening Room Music Agency. 

1:30pm: Orangery Open. 2pm to 4.30pm: Showtime 

Bring your picnic blanket and chairs. Come early and enjoy the grounds and Tea Room.  You can also purchase tickets to view the House & Collections at the main door on the day.  Adult tickets: £20 each, Under 18s: £5 each, Under 5s: Free

Ace trumpeter Paul Higgs plays the music of Miles Davis, the most revered jazz trumpeter of all time, at the forefront of major innovations in jazz from the ‘40s to the ’90s – from bebop to the cool of ‘Kind of Blue’, jazz fusion and jazz funk. Paul & his band play well-known favourites from these styles as well as some less familiar gems. 

1:30pm: Orangery Open. 2pm to 4.30pm: Showtime 

Bring your picnic blanket and chairs. Come early and enjoy the grounds and Tea Room.  You can also purchase tickets to view the House & Collections at the main door on the day.  Adult tickets: £17 each, Under 18s: £5 each, Under 5s: Free

Chiddingstone Castle is honoured to have such super volunteers on the team. We enjoy their company and experience. They enjoy getting together with like-minded folk for a morning here and there that suits their own schedule, working on their own tasks or on team projects to help the Castle. If you have some spare time and are looking for something to do, It’s a lot of fun!

Email us to arrange an informal chat at hello@chiddingstonecastle.org.uk