https://wikishire.co.uk/w/index.php?title=Tonbridge_Castle&feed=atom&action=historyTonbridge Castle - Revision history2024-03-29T06:52:00ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.25.5https://wikishire.co.uk/w/index.php?title=Tonbridge_Castle&diff=22210&oldid=prevRB: Created page with "{{Infobox castle |name=Tonbridge Castle |town=Tonbridge |county=Kent |picture=TonbridgeCastle0021.JPG |picture caption=Tonbridge Castle Gatehouse and mansion |os grid ref=TQ58..."2014-07-02T23:22:43Z<p>Created page with "{{Infobox castle |name=Tonbridge Castle |town=Tonbridge |county=Kent |picture=TonbridgeCastle0021.JPG |picture caption=Tonbridge Castle Gatehouse and mansion |os grid ref=TQ58..."</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Infobox castle<br />
|name=Tonbridge Castle<br />
|town=Tonbridge<br />
|county=Kent<br />
|picture=TonbridgeCastle0021.JPG<br />
|picture caption=Tonbridge Castle Gatehouse and mansion<br />
|os grid ref=TQ58854666<br />
|latitude=51.1966<br />
|longitude=0.2738 <br />
|type=Motte and bailey, with later shell keep<br />
|height=<br />
|condition=Motte and gatehouse survive<br />
|ownership=Tonbridge and Malling Borough Council<br />
|battles=De Clare rebellion, 1088<br />
}}<br />
'''Tonbridge Castle''' is situated in the little town of [[Tonbridge]] in [[Kent]].<br />
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==Early history==<br />
[[File:Tonbridge castle reconstruction.jpg|left|thumb|Reconstruction of Tonbridge Castle in the 13th century]]<br />
Following the Norman Conquest, Richard Fitz Gilbert was granted land in [[Kent]] to guard the crossing of the [[River Medway]]. He erected a simple motte-and-bailey castle on the site. To dig the moat and erect the motte, 50,000 tons of earth were moved. In 1088, the de Clare family (descendents of Fitz Gilbert) rebelled against King William II. His army besieged the castle. After holding for two days the castle fell and as punishment the king had both the castle and the town of Tonbridge burnt to the ground. Before 1100, the de Clares replaced the wooden castle with a stone shell keep. This was reinforced during the thirteenth century, and in 1295 a stone wall was built around the town.<ref name=castle >{{Citation | last=Tonbridge Historical Society| first=| author-link=| last2=| first2=| author2-link=| title=The Castle| date=| year=| url=http://www.tonbridgehistory.org.uk/places/the-castle.htm| accessdate=January 2008}}</ref><br />
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The twin towered gatehouse was built by Richard de Clare, sixth Earl of Hertford or his son Gilbert.<ref name=arms/> Construction of the gatehouse took 30 years, being completed in 1260.<ref name=EH>{{Citation|url=http://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/details/default.aspx?id=178646 |title=Tonbridge Castle, Tonbridge, Kent |publisher=English Heritage |accessdate=2008-11-14}}</ref> The gatehouse shares many similarities with the ones at [[Caerphilly Castle]] built by Gilbert in 1268-1271. The great seal of England was temporarily kept here during one of Edward's visits to France.<ref name=arms >{{Citation | last=Tonbridge Historical Society| first=| author-link=| last2=| first2=| author2-link=| title=The Arms of Tonbridge| date=| year=| url=http://www.tonbridgehistory.org.uk/miscellany/arms.htm| accessdate=January 2008}}</ref><br />
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The castle was not lived in between 1521 and the late 18th century, except for a short period during the Civil War.<ref name="Neve">{{Citation | title=The Tonbridge of Yesterday | author=Neve, Arthur H. | year=1933 | publisher=Tonbridge Free Press | url=http://theweald.org/B10.asp?BookId=neve347&v=0&xid=&xnm=1}}</ref> The mansion was added in 1793. Both castle and mansion are Grade I listed buildings.<ref name=EH/><br />
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==Modern history==<br />
[[File:TonbridgeCastle0019.JPG|right|thumb|200px|The motte]]<br />
The site was purchased by the local council in 1900, who now use the mansion as offices, and making the grounds a public park.<br />
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==Outside links==<br />
{{Commons}}<br />
*[http://www.tonbridgecastle.org Tonbridge Castle]<br />
*[http://www.tonbridgehistory.org.uk/photos/the-castle/slides/6.004a.html 26 historical prints]<br />
*[http://www.theheritagetrail.co.uk/castles/tonbridge_castle.htm Castle History at "The Heritage Trail"]<br />
* [http://www.discoverthegardenofengland.com/things-to-do/tonbridge-castle-p219391 Discover the Garden of England]<br />
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==References==<br />
{{reflist}}</div>RB