Hadlow Castle

Hadlow Castle is a Gothic Revival country house featuring a striking octagonal tower approximately 53 meters tall, topped with an ornate lantern. The structure showcases elaborate architectural detailing characteristic of 19th-century residential design with pointed arches and intricate stonework.

Construction began in the late 1780s under Walter May, and his son Walter Barton May added significant expansions between 1838 and 1852. The main structure was largely demolished in 1951, though the tower was subsequently restored and remains a landmark in the area.

The castle represents the Victorian era's architectural preferences, combining Gothic Revival elements with the wealth-driven ambitions of nineteenth-century English nobility.

The tower is open to visitors and contains exhibition spaces displaying the site's history. Plan time to climb the interior stairs for views across the surrounding landscape from the upper levels.

The tower served as an observation post for the Royal Observer Corps during World War II, monitoring aircraft movements across Kent. This military use added a brief chapter of wartime significance to the building's civilian history.

Location: Hadlow

Inception: 1852

Architects: George Ledwell Taylor

Architectural style: Gothic Revival

GPS coordinates: 51.22361,0.33889

Latest update: December 8, 2025 20:03