Holiday in Cowden, Kent - Friday 8th May to Friday 15th May 2015

Self Catering Holiday Cottage.

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Day 5 - Tuesday 12th May

Today we visited two National Trust properties.

Bodiam Castle.   This is a real castle that was built during the 100 years War by a knight who had become wealthy from looting, pillage and ransom - normal for the time!  Sir Edward Dalyngrigge got permission from Richard II to build a castle for defence against French raids on the southern coastline and building commenced in 1385.  His successors continued to live in the castle and it eventually passed out of the family through marriage.  During the War of the Roses Thomas Lewkner supported the House of Lancaster and the property was confiscated under Richard III when the House of York gained the throne.  In 1485 Henry VII  gained the throne for the House of Lancaster and the property was later returned to the family.  During the English Civil War the castle was partly dismantled before being partially restored during the 19th and 20th Centuries.  It is a regular rectangular castle with corner towers and central gatehouses on two sides. There is a wide moat completely surrounding the castle.

Corner shot of castle            Castle with moat                        Landward side of castle

Current entry to castle          Shot of courtyard from tower                    Well in corner tower

Bateman's was the family home of Rudyard Kipling from 1902 until his death in 1936. Bateman's was originally built in 1634 as a country mansion.  When Kipling and his wife first viewed the property, it was almost still Jacobean, no running water or other services. They kept the property much as they found it, not putting in such modern "nuisances" as a telephone.  Electricity was installed, power being produced by a water turbine - there was a water mill for grinding corn on the estate.  I have found nothing about water supply.  The house when viewed today had a very comfortable feel about it so I feel they must have enjoyed living there. Kipling's wife, Carrie, died in 1939, only a few years after her husband.  She left the estate to the National Trust.

                                                                                        Views of the house

From the orchard                Front Elevation                      Rear Elevation        Oast House outbuilding

                      Elsie's Sitting Room  (Daughter Elsie)

                                           John's bedroom (Son John died in action in WW1)

                                             Kipling's Study

                                                                    Kitchen