Settled in our base at the Priest’s House at  Sissinghurst, we enjoy daily forays to sister National Trust properties and other points of interest. Today, our destination was Scotney Castle, a kind of two-for-one special.

The property features an English country house from the 1840s, built to replace the original 12th-century castle, now called the “old” Scotney Castle.

The old Castle is essentially a ruin but has that essential feature in a castle – a moat!

The “new” castle is at the top of a steep hill, with the original “old” moated castle below.

The Old Castle sits in a small lake at the bottom of a large, sloping garden featuring masses of rhododendrons.

The weather looked iffy, so we walked around the grounds while the going was good. Everywhere we looked, there was something to enjoy.

The white wisteria dripping from the castle walls was gorgeous.

Though one might be tempted to think that the old castle fell into ruins due to predations of weather and time, it’s not so. The builder of the new castle hastened their demise to create a picturesque ruin around which he made the garden.

Ironically, the weather got better as the day progressed, but eventually, we turned our steps toward the New Castle and explored the interior.

While a bit dark, it was a friendly, comfortable home.

 

We could see why Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher rented portions of it from National Trust during her tenure as Prime Minister to serve as a weekend “bolthole”, as the Brits called it.

Of course, I loved the dining room, featuring a beautiful rust and cobalt porcelain display.

 

The Library, at the back of the house, overlooks the gardens and the old castle below.

 

 

The day was well spent. There is lots to see, lovely weather, and two castles for the price of one (with a moat). I was a happy camper.