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Author
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Topic: Castles Tonge & Badlesmere, Kent, England
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merchi
Member
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posted 07-07-99 11:40 AM
 
Does anyone have any info regarding these castles? Location? Photos? ANYTHING??
Please? Thank You!!
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Jerrian Barsness
Member
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posted 07-13-99 06:37 PM
Hi, I'm also looking for information on Castle Badlesmere. I'm wondering if it is a ruin, or completely gone or what. It was a family castle. I'm descended from Badlesmere, herself. Jerrian------------------
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merchi
Member
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posted 07-14-99 09:26 AM
I recieved an email reply regarding Tonge Castle: "An earthwork castle of Norman origin which, in the 13th century, received
stonework. Fragments were discovered in two excavations in the present
century 1920-30 and 1964)."
I wonder if there is a photo, but I am thinking maybe this castle is nothing more than fragments now.I would still like any information someone might have regarding one or both of these castles! Thanks!
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AJR
Senior Member
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posted 01-03-2001 07:13 AM
Information on Tonge Castle can be found in John Guy's "Kent Castles", published by Meresborough Books in 1980. |
Peter
Moderator
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posted 01-04-2001 11:34 AM
To both sites, you have VERY minor castles, IF they were both castles & not moated manors.
TONGE, has very ancient history, even before its castle. Of which a mound and parts of a ditch survived up to a few years ago. So a little bit of legend for you (I type it as I read it).
" The story is that the first English arrived here with Hengist and Horsa defeated the old chief Vortigern and dined with him in his castle at Tonge. Hengist brought with him Rowena his beautiful daughter, who captivated Vortigern so that he gave Hengist half his kingdom. It is said also, that Hengist, after his first battle, asked for as much land as an oxhide could cover, and thereupon they cut the hide into strips and covered this mound with it.
So there is perhaps more Saxon history here than Norman. Though the church dates from the 13th Cen.
BADLESMERE, was more of a hamlet than a village. It takes its name from the 'Badlesmere' family, who, were at one time the Lords of the great LEEDS castle.
Bartholomew is known as the Lord who refused to lower his drawbridge for the Queen of England, Isabella. Edward II, took umbridge at this and laid Leeds under siege. More Bartholomew was beheaded for treason in the end. The govenor of the castle was hung from the drawbridge chain. Mind you, it is also said at that time that Bartholomew was out with other Barons despoilings the lands of Hugh de Spenser.
So, of Badlesmere there is little, but of the family and its connections with Leeds castle, much.
For more information, don't forget to try your local library, and the Victoria County Histories. | |
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