CHILHAM

Chilham - The North end of the Village Square
© P.E. Blanche 2000

Whether the Village is approached from the turning off the A252 or the A28, it's an uphill climb to the Square in the centre of this cluster of houses, buildings and a Castle that is Chilham. The square is, as I've seen it sest described, a plateau surrounded by the Castle gates to the West, the Church of St. Mary to the East and to the North and South by beautifully neat half timbered houses. The square was featured in the film, "The Amourous Adventures of Moll Flanders" that was made here in about 1965.

Chilham Castle, mostly a Jacobean Mansion was built around an original Norman Keep in 1616 for Sir Dudley Digges, Master of the Rolls for James I. The house was reputedly designed by Inigo Jones and again, the grounds were supposed to have been laid out by Capability Brown in 1777. It was, until last year, 1996, the home of the 13th Viscount Massereene and Ferrard, a member of the Skeffington family. (Please note: I have just learned that the Viscount Massereene, a charming man from my experience, passed away in 1992. I'm sure he will be missed by local residents. I mention this because, like so many family estates, the Castle has been sold which will most unfortunately, end public access to the property and its beautiful grounds). There are supposed to be two or three ghosts in the castle, the most well known being, the Grey Lady who is said to been seen on the main stairs.

There is a long barrow to the South of the Village in the Valley near the River Stour. It is meant to be the final resting place of one of Julius Caesar's Captains and known as Julliberrie's Grave and is 150ft long. It is also said that it was in this spot that the Ancient Britons stood against the Tenth Legion and drove them back.

The entrance to Chilham Castle at the South end of The Square
© P.E. Blanche