Walmer Castle, Kent

22nd June 2015
1539 - castle built as part of a chain of artillery forts commissioned by Henry VIII due to threat of Spanish invasion
1708 onwards - castle became official residence for the Lords of Warden of the Cinque Ports - a title held by many including the Duke of Wellington, Winston Churchill and the Queen’s Mother

As you come out of the shop, there are stairs leading to the basement which contains the Soldier’s Kitchen (indicated by an original sign from the Napoleonic Wars), a gun magazine and a well. Much of the ground floor and basement has retained its Tudor appearance. The first room of the castle is the hall which was built in 1730s as a gunner’s lodging. The Duke of Wellington room was the warmest room in the castle hence why it was used as a bedroom. The representation of the room is as it was when the Duke of Wellington died there in 1852. Wellington Museum contains the Duke of Wellington’s wellington boots (!) and death mask. The Pitt Museum contains mostly cartoon pictures from when William Pitt the Younger was Prime Minister. A corridor which runs the full length of the castle, was created by William Pitt the Younger. Pitt’s Library, which was once part of the Royal Suite, contains original features from Pitt’s days. The Ante room between the Dining Room (displayed as it would've looked when William Pitt the Younger/Winston Churchill used it) and the Drawing room (as it looked in the 1920-1930s during Lord Beauchamp’s time) provides lovely views out to sea. The gardens of the castle include: Queen Mother gardens, Kitchen garden, glass house, Oval lawn, Broad walk, meadow, glen and woodland walk.

Owned by English Heritage
Designated car park
Shop, tea room, toilets
Guidebook available and we would recommend the iPod audio guide
No dogs allowed

We would suggest in nice weather doing the short, level walk along the sea front to Deal Castle. 

N & K

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