Lympne Castle

Lympne Castle is a 18,862 square feet (1,752.3 m2) medieval castle located in the village of Lympne, Kent, above Romney Marsh.

Lympne Castle in 2011.

After the Reformation, the castle was sometimes referred to as Court Lodge. Lympne Castle is a Grade I listed property, described as a fortified manor house.[1]

History

The castle was built close to the former Roman fort of Portus Lemanis, sometimes known as Stutfall Castle, on the site of Lympne Abbey. The first castle on the site was erected in the 1080s for the Archdeacons of Canterbury. It was rebuilt in the 1360s and expanded.[2] After that work, the structure included a tower at each end.[3]

Additions were made in the 15th and 19th centuries. The last addition was by Robert Lorimer who worked on the property during 1907 and 1911-12.[4]

Until 1860, the property was the residence of the Archdeacon of Canterbury. It was then used as a farmhouse and was in disrepair by the early 1900s. The property was purchased by F.J. Tennant in 1906. The restoration of medieval aspects by Lorimer was complemented by the addition of the West Wing.[5] The East Wing was added in 1918 for then-owner Henry Beecham.

By the end of WW II, the castle was in poor condition because it was used by the army;[6] a series of restorations and modifications were made starting in 1945.[7]

Modern usage

In September 1978, Paul McCartney's Wings recorded sessions at the Lympne Castle for their 1979 album Back to the Egg.[8]

By the time the property was listed for sale in summer 2021, it was described as containing self-catering accommodations and a restaurant, in addition to the castle. It was also being used for corporate events and weddings. The castle was not generally open to the public. The castle was sold in February 2023; the new owners are opening a wedding and event venue.[9][10]

References
  1. "Lympne Castle". Heritage Gateway. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  2. "History of Lympne Castle". Project "Castles". Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  3. "Lympne Castle". Castles and Fortifications of England and Wales. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  4. "Lympne Castle Lympne, England". Go Historic. Retrieved 4 September 2022. list entry id 1101773
  5. "Lympne Castle". Heritage Gateway. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  6. "Lympne Castle". Heritage Gateway. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  7. "An £11 million castle for sale in Kent, with 130 acres, views over to France, and absolutely breathtaking both inside and out". Country Life. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  8. Paul McCartney's sessions Archived 2007-06-10 at the Wayback Machine
  9. "An £11 million castle for sale in Kent, with 130 acres, views over to France, and absolutely breathtaking both inside and out". Country Life. Retrieved 4 September 2022.
  10. "Lympne Castle up for sale at £11 million". Kent Online. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Lympne Castle.
Lympne Castle as it appeared ca. 1830. Extensive renovations and additions were carried out subsequent to the making of this view

51°4′19.98″N 1°1′25.04″E

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