Scotney Castle
Scotney Castle is actually the remains of three buildings in one, a medieval tower, a 17th century mansion, and a Victorian country house in mock Tudor style. Situated in Kent with magnificent views of the countryside, it is run by the National Trust who have been sympathetic in its maintenance.
Scotney Castle was originally built in the 14th century for the Ashburnham family. Much of it was demolished and rebuilt as a mansion in the 1640s. In the 18th century it passed to the ownership of the Hussey family. In 1835 a descendant of this clan, Edward Hussey, commissioned the Victorian medieval revivalist Anthony Salvin to build a country house in an Elizabethan style next to the original moated castle. He also employed William Gilpin to landscape the gardens around the romantic ruins.
In the 20th century Scotney Castle passed to another Hussey descendent, Christopher Hussey, journalist of the influential Country Life magazine. He later gave the place to the National Trust in 1970. Highlights include the original medieval tower, the rare medieval staircase and a garderobe - an ancient loo! The surrounding acres of woodland and parkland are celebrated for their forests of rhododendrons, azaleas and wisteria.