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Ten year conservation programme preserves one of Kent's hidden gems

A Celebration and Press Day held at Westenhanger Castle on Friday 23rd March 2007 brought together many of the partners and organisations who have worked tirelessly since 1997 to save the Castle. It acknowledged the work that has taken place to enable this once dilapidated property to be removed from English Heritage's 'Buildings at Risk' register.

For the past ten years the Forge family have been working in partnership with English Heritage to preserve and consolidate the high standing masonry. The walls and towers have been recorded in detail with a phased programme of conservation. Work began in January 2007 to repair the very rare hammerbeam roof of the 16th Century barn.

Graham Forge said "work to conserve the scheduled ancient monument has been an interesting and exciting project. In 1997, we took on the daunting task of stopping what was once described by a 19th Century historian as ‘pleasing decay’. It is important that our heritage is preserved and should be available to the public and, through our conservation work, we are moving towards a time when the castle will earn its keep.”

English Heritage’s Inspector of Ancient Monument, Peter Kendall, said: “Westenhanger was Kent’s forgotten great country house. It has been a pleasure to work with the Forge family to transform it from a decaying ruin into a site that can be visited and enjoyed.”

We are now able to open the Castle grounds for public viewing on a regular basis. This summer the gates will be open each Tuesday from 5th June to 18th September between the hours of 10.00 a.m. and 4.00 p.m. For a small entrance fee you can walk within the keep or around the walls through the park.