private hire

history

Hosted Kings, Queens & 
historic celebrations

Once owned by Henry VIII, Chilham Castle has been an exclusive private residence for nearly five centuries, playing host to Kings, Queens and historic celebrations.

The hexagonal castle as it stands today, was reshaped in the early 1600’s by Sir Dudley Digges, a merchant adventurer and close friend of William Shakespeare. He believed in the principles of sacred geometry and used his deep knowledge on the subject to build a castle with purpose — one that would amplify connections between spirit, mind and the outside world to create harmony within.

the early owners

Chilham Castle was first granted by King William the Conqueror to his half-brother, Odo, and eventually came under the stewardship of the De Lucy family in the twelfth century. The family, later known as de Dover, significantly fortified the castle. It played a pivotal role in national affairs, including a brief occupation by the ‘Dauphin’ of France in 1216. Over the centuries, it served as a strategic asset during England's Scottish wars. The castle finally left the founding family in 1326 after enduring numerous battles and changes of hands.

Bartholomew, Lord Badlesmere, born in 1280 at Chilham, was a powerful figure in Kent whose downfall was a direct result of defiance to the crown. After his wife denied Queen Isabella entry to Leeds Castle, Chilham was seized by the King’s forces in 1321 and Badlesmere was subsequently executed, and his family imprisoned. Ownership changed hands over the ensuing centuries, including most notably, the sale of the castle to Henry VIII in 1539, severing the Badlesmere connection to Chilham permanently.

In 1542, Sir Thomas Cheney, an influential figure at the time, acquired Chilham Castle by a grant from the King. He repurposed the castle primarily as a source of building materials for his estate on the Isle of Sheppey. The castle's fortifications were dismantled and transported to enhance his residence at Shurland. Later, the castle, reduced to ruins, was sold to Sir Thomas Kempe and eventually passed through inheritance to Mary Digges, who reconstructed it into the current house.

the jacobean mansion

While alterations have been made over the four hundred years since Dudley Digges’ built the magnificent Jacobean manor house, much of the original style and form of the building prevails. Most notably, the dazzling brickwork façade remains unchanged by time and the grand staircase leading to the great chamber above the hall is still as impressive as it ever was.

THE FAMILIES

the digges family

Held the house 1607–1724

Sir Dudley Digges, the builder of the house, was its best-known owner. He was a pioneering entrepreneur, pursuing merchant adventuring to the limits of the known world, a fearless politician, not afraid to challenge even the King, a senior member of the judiciary and an author of several serious tomes on subjects of the day.

the colebrooke family

Held the house 1724 – 1774

Thomas was not good with money and, having accumulated overwhelming debts, soon found himself forced to sell Chilham to his principal creditor, James Colebrooke, a wealthy and powerful banker from the City of London.

thomas heron

Held the house 1774–1794

He bought Chilham in 1774 (it must have amused him to acquire an estate with a centuries-old heronry).

the wildman family

Held the house 1794–1861

In 1794, James Wildman, a Lancastrian from Barking Geat, near Ormskirk, prospered in Jamaica as agent for the fabulously wealthy William Beckford of Fonthill. Having bought from his master some land which he described as ‘waste’ upon which he built a sugar factory, Wildman had within 12 years become wealthy enough to buy Chilham. Apart from undocumented changes to the fenestration, he seems to have done little or nothing to the place – perhaps Heron’s expenditure made further expense unnecessary.

the hardy family

Held the house 1861–1918

In 1861, the estate was bought by Charles Hardy, of Low Moor Yorkshire, a Bradford iron-founder, whose father Sir John Hardy owned Dunstall Hall, Staffordshire. The family had done well in a short time – a recent ancestor had been a gardener.

sir edmund davis

Held the house 1918–1939

In 1918, Edmund Gabriel Davis bought what was left of the estate.

viscount massereene & ferrard

Held the house 1949–1997

The Digges family held Chilham through four generations from but after Sir Dudley built the house, the only achievement of his descendants was to lose it.Sir Dudley Digges, the builder of the house, was its best-known owner. He was a pioneering entrepreneur, pursuing merchant adventuring to the limits of the known world, a fearless politician, not afraid to challenge even the King, a senior member of the judiciary and an author of several serious tomes on subjects of the day.

the wheeler family

Held the house 2003-2022

Stuart and Tessa Wheeler bought the castle in 2002 and immediately began the work on the restoration. They were guided by Mary Keen in the gardens and Christopher Gibbs and Jane Ormsby-Gore in the house.

the amin family

Presently the current homeowner, from 2022-Present

the digges family

Held the house 1607–1724

the colebrooke family

Held the house 1724 – 1774

thomas heron

Held the house 1774–1794

the wildman family

Held the house 1794–1861

the hardy family

Held the house 1861–1918

SIR EDMUND DAVIS

Held the house 1918–1939

VISCOUNT MASSEREENE & FERRARD

Held the house 1949–1997

the wheeler family

Held the house 2003-2022

the amin family

Presently the current homeowner, from 2022-Present

THE FAMILIES

the digges family

held the house 1607-1724

The Digges family held Chilham through four generations from but after Sir Dudley built the house, the only achievement of his descendants was to lose it.Sir Dudley Digges, the builder of the house, was its best-known owner. He was a pioneering entrepreneur, pursuing merchant adventuring to the limits of the known world, a fearless politician, not afraid to challenge even the King, a senior member of the judiciary and an author of several serious tomes on subjects of the day.

the colebrooke family

held the house 1724-1774

The Digges family held Chilham through four generations from but after Sir Dudley built the house, the only achievement of his descendants was to lose it.Sir Dudley Digges, the builder of the house, was its best-known owner. He was a pioneering entrepreneur, pursuing merchant adventuring to the limits of the known world, a fearless politician, not afraid to challenge even the King, a senior member of the judiciary and an author of several serious tomes on subjects of the day.

thomas heron

held the house 1774-1794

The Digges family held Chilham through four generations from but after Sir Dudley built the house, the only achievement of his descendants was to lose it.Sir Dudley Digges, the builder of the house, was its best-known owner. He was a pioneering entrepreneur, pursuing merchant adventuring to the limits of the known world, a fearless politician, not afraid to challenge even the King, a senior member of the judiciary and an author of several serious tomes on subjects of the day.

the wildman family

held the house 1794-1861

The Digges family held Chilham through four generations from but after Sir Dudley built the house, the only achievement of his descendants was to lose it.Sir Dudley Digges, the builder of the house, was its best-known owner. He was a pioneering entrepreneur, pursuing merchant adventuring to the limits of the known world, a fearless politician, not afraid to challenge even the King, a senior member of the judiciary and an author of several serious tomes on subjects of the day.

the hardy family

held the house 1861-1918

The Digges family held Chilham through four generations from but after Sir Dudley built the house, the only achievement of his descendants was to lose it.Sir Dudley Digges, the builder of the house, was its best-known owner. He was a pioneering entrepreneur, pursuing merchant adventuring to the limits of the known world, a fearless politician, not afraid to challenge even the King, a senior member of the judiciary and an author of several serious tomes on subjects of the day.

sir edmund davis

held the house 1918-1939

The Digges family held Chilham through four generations from but after Sir Dudley built the house, the only achievement of his descendants was to lose it.Sir Dudley Digges, the builder of the house, was its best-known owner. He was a pioneering entrepreneur, pursuing merchant adventuring to the limits of the known world, a fearless politician, not afraid to challenge even the King, a senior member of the judiciary and an author of several serious tomes on subjects of the day.

viscount massereene & ferrard

held the house 1949-1997

The Digges family held Chilham through four generations from but after Sir Dudley built the house, the only achievement of his descendants was to lose it.Sir Dudley Digges, the builder of the house, was its best-known owner. He was a pioneering entrepreneur, pursuing merchant adventuring to the limits of the known world, a fearless politician, not afraid to challenge even the King, a senior member of the judiciary and an author of several serious tomes on subjects of the day.

the wheeler family

held the house 2003-2022

The Digges family held Chilham through four generations from but after Sir Dudley built the house, the only achievement of his descendants was to lose it.Sir Dudley Digges, the builder of the house, was its best-known owner. He was a pioneering entrepreneur, pursuing merchant adventuring to the limits of the known world, a fearless politician, not afraid to challenge even the King, a senior member of the judiciary and an author of several serious tomes on subjects of the day.

the amin family

Presently the current homeowner, from 2022-Present

The Digges family held Chilham through four generations from but after Sir Dudley built the house, the only achievement of his descendants was to lose it.Sir Dudley Digges, the builder of the house, was its best-known owner. He was a pioneering entrepreneur, pursuing merchant adventuring to the limits of the known world, a fearless politician, not afraid to challenge even the King, a senior member of the judiciary and an author of several serious tomes on subjects of the day.

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