TUNBRIDGE WELLS DISTRICT
STATELY HOUSES, CASTLES & TOWERS
Kent is home to various stately homes, country houses, castles, and towers, some of which have intriguing stories of hauntings throughout history. Notable figures like Sir Winston Churchill and Charles Darwin are linked to some of these locations. Additionally, there are lesser-known treasures that hold their own surprises.
Here is what has been found so far in the Tunbridge Wells District
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Please note that not all of these sites are publicly accessible, as some may be located on private property. Be sure to check in advance and obtain permission if necessary. Do not trespass!
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If you know of any sites that are missing or have heard reports of paranormal activity at any stately homes Castle & Towers not mentioned here, please get in touch. Thank you.
SALOMONS ESTATE
BROOMHILL RD, TUNBRIDGE WELLS TN3
**PARANORMAL ACTIVITY**
I have found no records of paranormal investigations or evidence of hauntings or ghosts. However, as this is in my hometown, I have heard stories from locals I have spoken to over the years who have worked or visited there, claiming to have seen things out of the corner of their eyes or heard something unexplained. Others have described experiencing an eerie feeling, and it's understandable given the family's history of sadness and trauma; residual energy may be trapped within the walls.
Perhaps in the future, the Salomons' estate will allow investigations to determine if things do go bump in the night.
**HISTORY**
The Salomons' estate, located in the countryside behind Southborough in Tunbridge Wells, was constructed by Decimus Burton for Sir David Salomons and was notable for being the first house in Britain to use domestic electricity.
Three generations of the Salomons family lived at the estate during their lifetimes: Sir David Salomons with his wife, Jeannette, his nephew, Sir David Lionel Salomons, his wife, Laura and their children: Maud, Sybil, David Reginald, Vera, and Ethel.
Sir David Salomon was born in 1797 in Bury St. Edmunds, London. The family was of Ashkenazi Jewish descent and had moved to London from the Netherlands in the early 18th century, drawn by the financial opportunities in the burgeoning British economy.
In 1825, David married Jeannette Cohen.
By 1829, as his fortunes grew, he leased a home near Tunbridge Wells called Broomhill Cottage. Two years later, he purchased an estate in Groombridge, where they built a new home named Burrswood.
In 1839, he became the first Jewish Sheriff of the City of London. Meanwhile, he trained as a lawyer and was called to the bar in 1849, although he did not practice as a barrister. Notably, he was also the first Jewish magistrate in England.
In the early 1850s, David sold Burrswood and redeveloped the Broomhill estate, constructing a new house and designing the grounds. Unlike Burrswood, a working estate, he intended Broomhill to be a place of retreat.
David and Jeannette were unable to have children. This situation ran in Jeannette's family, as her aunt had the same issue. However, they took in an orphaned cousin, Clara Phillips, who lived with them.
David's public career was thriving, and in 1855, the aldermen elected him Lord Mayor of London.
Philip Salomons was David's elder brother. He emigrated to America as a young man but eventually returned and settled in Brighton at Brunswick Terrace.
In 1850, at age 54, he married Emma Abigail Montefiore, who was 18 at the time. They had three children: David Lionel (born in 1851), Tragically, their second son, Philip Montefiore, died in infancy, Laura Matilda (born in 1853), and Stella Rosalind Jeannette (born in 1855). Then, Emma passed away in 1859 at the age of 26. After Emma died, the children, ages 4, 6, and 8, spent increasingly more time with their uncle David.
David's wife, Jeannette, began to deteriorate, and by the 1860s, her condition worsened. She spent time at a care home in Blackheath and later resided in an asylum in Ticehurst. Jeannette passed away in 1867 while receiving care at Ticehurst, specifically at St Leonards, a facility for their patients.
Philip also died in 1867, leading the children to move in with David full-time.
David remarried in 1872 to Cecilia Salomons, née Samuels, a cousin of Jeannette's and the widow of one of his cousins. However, David passed away the following year, in 1873.
After his death, Cecilia moved to their house in London. David's nephew, David Lionel Goldsmid-Stern-Salomons, inherited Broomhill and the baronetcy. That same year, David Lionel graduated in Natural Sciences from Cambridge. He was called to the bar by the Middle Temple the following year.
In 1873, David Lionel's sister, Laura, married Edward Lucas, a cotton merchant. They settled in Bayswater.
In 1877, his other sister, Stella, married George Paget, a stockbroker, and they also lived in Bayswater. Later, Stella returned to Broomhill and resided in Oak Lodge, located at the entrance to the Salomons Estate.
David Lionel was keenly interested in science and technology, which led him to extend Broomhill. He constructed a tower for use as an astronomical observatory, built a photographic studio and darkroom, and set up extensive workshops. He was also one of the earliest adopters of on-site electricity generation.
In addition to his scientific pursuits, he contributed to the area's social life by hosting balls and events at the estate.
By 1880, he held several notable positions, including Justice of the Peace, Deputy Lieutenant, Sheriff of Kent, Mayor, and Alderman of Tunbridge Wells.
In 1882, David Lionel married Laura de Stern. One of Laura's siblings, Alfred, born in 1850, remains somewhat of a mystery. It is believed he may have developed a mental illness, and later in life, he lived in a large house near Goudhurst with resident medical support.
David and Laura had five children: Maud Julia (b. 1883), Sybil Gwendolen (b. 1884), David Reginald Hermon Phillip (Reggie) (b. 1885), Vera Frances (b. 1888), and Ethel Dorothy (b. 1892).
As their family grew, they needed more space, prompting an expansion of their house in the late 1800s, which included the addition of the East Wing, a second floor, and renovations to the main block.
The household employed a range of domestic staff, including a children's governess, indoor staff, estate workers (such as gardeners), coachmen, grooms, stable boys, and later, chauffeurs and mechanics as motor cars became more common. Many of these positions were live-in roles.
David continued his research into electricity and photography, exploring new areas such as X-rays and radio technology.
The visitor's book at Broomhill records visits from prominent scientists, including Lord Kelvin and Joseph Swan, the inventor of the electric light bulb.
David also hosted gatherings for the local photographic society.
Throughout the 1890s, David Lionel was very active. He designed and built a new stable and developed a keen interest in motor cars. As the mayor of Tunbridge Wells in 1895, he organised the world's first motor show.
On the site of the original stables, David later constructed a theatre intended for scientific lectures and experiments. He recognised that the theatre could also facilitate technological innovation, enhancing the lighting, projection, and electrical operation of curtains and blinds. His innovative spirit continued into the new century.
In 1899, tragedy struck the Salomons family again when their daughter Sybil died at the age of 15. She was buried in what became the family's private burial ground behind the evangelical chapel opposite Broomhill Bank.
The onset of the First World War brought further sadness to the family in the final years leading up to the conflict. The uncertain security situation in the years preceding the war led to establishing a Territorial Force in 1908. David Lionel Salomons became an honorary colonel and encouraged the creation of a local unit of the Kent (Fortress) Royal Engineers. His son, Reggie, had been visiting a cousin in Japan. Upon his return to England, he became involved with the Territorial movement and the establishment and training of cadet companies.
1912 Reggie was appointed captain in the Royal Engineers and was attached to the 1/3 Kent Field Company, Royal Engineers. Initially, the role of the Territorials was to defend Britain. Still, they were eventually deployed overseas during the First World War. While serving with this unit, Reggie died at Gallipoli during the HMS Hythe disaster, which resulted in the loss of 155 lives, including Reggie's. He had refused to leave the ship until all his men were safe, giving away his life jacket in the process; tragically, his body, along with many others, was never recovered.
This was a profound tragedy for the Salomons family and the town, as many of those lost on HMS Hythe were from local families in Southborough, High Brooms, and Tunbridge Wells. Amongst them, several pairs of brothers perished, a father and son drowned together, and approximately 99 children lost their fathers.
After the war, Sir David Lionel dedicated all his time to building his library. David Lionel passed away in 1925, followed by Laura ten years later in 1935, the same year as their daughter Maud Ethel died in 1937. Vera was the only one of her generation left and wanted to venture abroad.
In 1938, she donated Broomhill to Kent County Council to memorialise her brother, father, and great-uncle.
The country house has since been transformed into a series of flexible function rooms for hire, and the Salomons Museum has been established in two ground-floor rooms. The museum is filled with fascinating exhibits that trace the history of the Salomons family. Pub dining is also available on the grounds.
It is also part of the Markerstudy Group and serves as a postgraduate training, research, and consultancy centre.
SISSINGHURST CASTLE GARDEN
BIDDENDEN RD, CRANBROOK TN17
**PARANORMAL ACTIVITY**
Visitors to the garden have reported encountering the peaceful spirit of a monk, who is said to have been killed by Sir John Baker during his religious reforms. John Baker married Katherine, the daughter of Richard Sackville, and resided in the gardens for a time. Visitors have also heard footsteps walking around the gardens.
**HISTORY**
Sissinghurst Castle Garden, located in Sissinghurst village, is one of the most famous gardens in England and is a Grade I listed site. The land on which Sissinghurst Castle Garden sits was once a Saxon pig farm, initially referred to as "Saxenhurst," with "hurst" meaning woodland.
In the Middle Ages, a manor house with a three-armed moat was constructed on the site.
Legend has it that King Edward I stayed there for a night in 1305. While it was long believed that Thomas Baker, a man from Cranbrook, purchased Sissinghurst in 1490, there is no evidence to support this claim. What is certain is that the house received a new brick gatehouse in the 1530s from Sir John Baker, who was one of Henry VIII's Privy Councillors.
When Queen Mary ascended to the throne in 1553, Sir John also served as Chancellor of the Exchequer, maintaining these roles throughout her reign.
During this period, he gained the nickname "Bloody Baker" due to his involvement in the persecution of reformers, most notably John Bland, the Vicar of Adisham, and Edmund Allin, a miller from Frittenden, both of whom were condemned to death. Although there is some debate about the extent of Sir John Baker's culpability, the nickname has persisted over the years.
His son, Sir Richard Baker (c.1530-94), greatly enlarged the estate in the 1560s, making it the centre of a 700-acre deer park.
In August 1573, Queen Elizabeth I stayed there for three nights.
It then passed through the family through inheritence Richards Son John Baker (d. 1597); to son, Sir Henry Baker (c.1587-1623), 1st bt.; to son, Sir John Baker (c.1608-53); to son, Sir John Baker (c.1635-61), 3rd bt. It then went to his daughters as co-heirs; the widower of daughter Anne (d. 1685), Edmund Beaghan (c.1656-1725), acquired three-quarters of the estate, and this went to his son, Edmund Hungate Beaghan (1703-55)
In 1730, Edmund sold the house to Sir Horace Mann (1706-86), 1st bt., a long-term resident in Florence (Italy), who bought the remaining quarter in 1744.
During the Seven Years' War (1756-63), he leased the house to the Crown for use as a prisoner of war camp, and up to 3,000 men were held here under guard. These prisoners endured months of incarceration in poor, unsanitary conditions, living in cells with limited access to fresh air, clean water, or adequate food. The gatehouse tower was occupied by French naval officers, who left their mark in the form of ship graffiti cut into the plaster on the walls. At the same time, another inmate painted a bird's-eye view of the house. The house was referred to by the French prisoners as the 'Chateau de Sissinghurst' and is said in this way to have acquired its modern name of Sissinghurst Castle, which had not previously been in use.
Sadly, the prisoners trashed the buildings, destroying the Elizabethan panelling and marble fireplaces, burning the pews and altar rails in the chapel, and leaving the garden 'without a stump above ground'. The house was decommissioned as a prison in 1763, and most of the house was pulled down.
Sir Horace Mann sold the land to Nephew Edward Louisa Mann. When Edward died in 1775, His brother Horace Mann inherited the castle.
Sir Horace died unmarried in Florence on 6 November 1786. Horace then inherited his baronetcy by special remainder and acted as Chargé d'affaires until the arrival of his replacement.
In 1796, Cranbrook parish leased the remnants as a workhouse for 100 inmates. This may have continued to function until 1836, when the parish workhouses were all closed down and sold off with the introduction of the new and much harsher Poor Law of 1834.
The land then passed in 1814 to the Cornwallis family. Under the terms of Galfridus Mann's Will of 1756, the husbands of female heirs were required to change their name to Mann. His daughter Catharine was to inherit, who married James Cornwallis, who changed his surname to Mann. The estate was generally referred to as the Mann/Cornwallis Estate.
It became home to farm labourers, providing housing, employment, and food for about 100 men. They repaired many buildings, and their legacy is still seen today on the weather vanes marked "MC 1839." The labourers worked the farm, which became profitable for the local parish.
It began an era of Victorian "high farming." Sissinghurst farm was considered the best on the entire Cornwallis estate.
It was sold in 1903 to Barton Cheeseman, who sold it in 1926 to Farmer William Wilmshurst. He died a year later, in September 1927, so it passed to his eldest son, William Alfred, a farmer and coal merchant at Maryport Farm, Buxted. He put it up for sale in 1928.
In 1930, Vita Sackville-West (1892-1962), a poet and gardening writer, and her husband Harold Nicolson (1886-1968), an author and diplomat, discovered Sissinghurst, concerned that their nearby property, Long Barn, was too close to unwanted development.
Despite Sissinghurst's dereliction, they purchased the ruins and surrounding farm from William Wilmshurst.
At that time, the buildings had been used to house the farm workers, and the area was cultivated with vegetables. The surrounding farm also grew cereals, well-established orchards, and hop gardens.
They restored the Elizabethan tower with the assistance of A.R. Powys, the Secretary of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings. In the long 16th and 17th century entrance range, the former stables became an extensive library and entertaining room. They laid out the famous gardens in 1931-32. The layout designed by Nicolson and the planting by Sackville-West were heavily influenced by gardens such as Gertrude Jekyll and Edwin Lutyens' at Cothay Manor in Somerset, laid out by Nicolson's friend Reginald Cooper, and the Hidcote Manor Garden, designed by Lawrence Johnston, whom Sackville-West aided in preserving.
Sissinghurst first opened to the public in 1938.
During the Second World War, the Women's Land Army operated the farm, with Vita Sackville-West actively involved in the organisation and welfare of the WLA in Kent.
When Vita died in 1962, her husband Harold decided to entrust Sissinghurst Gardens to the National Trust's care. The Trust began managing it in 1967 and continued to open it to the public.
Harold died in 1968, leaving their son Nigel Nicolson (1917-2004) living in the castle and his son Adam Nicholson (b. 1957), who succeeded as 5th Baron Carnock in 2008. However, he does not use the title.
Between 2005 and 2009, in partnership with the National Trust, Adam led a project which transformed the 260 acres surrounding the house and garden at Sissinghurst into a productive mixed farm, growing meat, fruit, cereals and vegetables for the National Trust restaurant.
SCOTNEY CASTLE
LAMBERHURST, TUNBRIDGE WELLS TN3
**PARANORMAL ACTIVITY**
Some say Walter de Scoteni's ghost haunts the castle's remains, where eerie whispers and ghostly footsteps can be heard. Another apparition is a mysterious figure seen dripping wet; this could possibly be Father Blount returning to the castle to dry off and continue with his services. Alternatively, it could be the spirit of a revenue collector rising from the murky depths of the moat, making his way to the castle's front door and banging on it in search of revenge against Arthur Darrell.
Arthur Darrell's body was buried near the castle, and according to the legend discussed above, he appeared at his funeral, exclaiming, "That isn't me!" before vanishing.
**HISTORY**
By charters related to the Priory of Hastings, it appears that "Walter Fitz Lambert, who, at the time of the Domesday Survey, held Crowhurst from the Count of Eu, was an ancestor of Walter and Peter de Scoteni. The arms of the latter on his seal were depicted as three billets on a bend, within an indented bordure.
Lambert de Scoteni held Scotney Castle during the years 1168-119. His successor was Walter de Scoteni, who, in 1259, was tried and hanged at Winchester after being persuaded by William de Valence to administer poison to Richard, Earl of Gloucester, and William de Clare, his brother. While the Earl escaped death, he suffered significant health issues, losing his hair, teeth, and fingernails, and many others died from the poisoning.
The Scotney family maintained ownership of the castle until around the 1350s, during the reign of Edward III. This family name ultimately gave the castle its title of "Scotney."
The land then passed to Roger de Ashburnham, the Conservator of the Peace in Kent and Sussex.
In 1377, after French ships raided the Sussex coast, causing widespread damage and panic among the locals, he built a castle to protect against further invasions. He chose a site on the River Bewl, at the bottom of a wooded valley just south of Lamberhurst, and constructed a quadrangular castle on a pair of islands surrounded by a wide moat. This moat also enclosed an outer courtyard and the remains of a ruined gatehouse, now known as Old Scotney Castle.
One of the original four towers still stands, topped with a later conical roof and adorned with machicolations. It is possible that the quadrangular castle was never fully completed, and what remains today is a large part of the initial structure. The south tower was recorded as the only standing tower in 1558.
This tower is connected to a later Elizabethan manor built by the Darrell family. Thomas Darrell owned the castle in the late 16th century, when Catholicism was illegal. Father Richard Blount, a Jesuit missionary and the family priest from 1591 to 1598, conducted secret services for Catholics in Kent.
During Christmas in 1598, Father Blount's presence was discovered, leading the authorities to search the castle rigorously. In a dramatic escape during a terrible storm, with help from the servants, Father Blount jumped into the moat and eluded capture.
William Darrell, possibly designed by Inigo Jones, constructed an east range around 1630. Darrell had most of the medieval castle demolished and connected his new house to the surviving tower. Like the medieval castle, the manor began to decay, and together, they serve as the centrepiece of a magnificent hillside garden.
Legend has it that Arthur Darrell, who lived in the castle, was a smuggler. It was reported that he fled abroad after several raids by revenue officers, which led to confrontations. To continue his illegal trade, he faked his death, and in 1720, "his body" was returned to the estate for burial. As the coffin was lowered into the ground, a tall stranger in a black cloak allegedly whispered, "That is not me they think they are burying." The stranger was never seen again.
It was said that the deception was discovered by an unfortunate customs officer, who Darrell killed during an inspection, and his body was disposed of in the moat at Scotney.
In 1778, Edward Hussey bought Scotney from the Darrell family. Between 1835 and 1843, his grandson, Edward, commissioned an architect to create a new Victorian mansion overlooking the riverside ruins at the top of the hill. This is known as "Scotney New Castle" or simply "Scotney Castle."
In 1924, a story emerged that Arthur Darrell's iron-studded coffin in the Scotney Chapel at St. Mary's Church in Lamberhurst was opened by the sexton, who discovered it was filled with rocks. This discovery fueled the tale of his faked death.
Quarrying part of the hillside for building stone enhanced the picturesque view of the estate. Among the treasures found in the quarry is the footprint of an iguanodon, which was left there over 100 million years ago.
Hussey planted a profusion of trees, azaleas, and rhododendrons, making Scotney a blaze of colour in early summer.
His descendant, Christopher Hussey, donated the estate to the National Trust, which now has its regional headquarters.
The Trust rented several apartments in the castle and on the estate, including to Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who rented the Belfry flat during the 1970s and 1980s as a weekend escape from her life in Westminster.
Following the death of the resident, Elizabeth Hussey, in 2006, the house was opened to the public for the first time on June 6, 2007.
The estate spans 770 acres and features trails through the hillside gardens and lovely woodlands. It is a beautiful location, with the gardens offering a tranquil atmosphere and stunning views across the landscape.