Category Archives: Historic Estates

Autumn, Castles, England, High Weald, Historic Estates, History, Kent, landscape photography, Ruins & Remains, September, South East, UK

Scotney Castle – The Old Ruin and the Victorian House Above It

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Introduction

Scotney Castle is unusual because it isn’t one building but two.
Down by the water sits the medieval Old Castle, once a fortified manor. Above it stands the 1830s New House, built deliberately to overlook the ruins. Together they form one of the most photographed estates in Kent.

Below is the short video showing both parts of the estate:

A wider look at Scotney: the Old Castle in the moat and the New House in the landscape.

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History

The Old Castle dates to the mid-14th century, when Kent was vulnerable to coastal raids during the Hundred Years’ War. It was never a full fortress, but a moated, defensible manor built to protect the family and estate during periods of instability.

scotney castle kilnwood kent
Scotney castle

By the 1830s the Hussey family wanted a modern home, so the New House was built on the hill. Rather than demolish the medieval structure, they turned it into a romantic garden feature. The valley below was landscaped so that the ruins were always the centre of the view from the new house.

Exploring the Site

The Old Castle:
Only part of the original structure survives – the gate tower, a hall range wall and the moat. Time, water and ivy soften the remaining stonework, making it one of the most recognisable scenes in the region.

The New House:
A classic Victorian country house built for comfort, with long views across the valley. The design intentionally frames the Old Castle, showing how 19th-century landscaping turned medieval remains into a feature rather than a burden.

The Grounds:
Lakes, woodland paths, and carefully planted slopes connect both buildings. The entire estate is a managed blend of medieval history and Victorian landscaping.

Practical Info

Location:
Scotney Castle, near Lamberhurst, Kent (National Trust).

Access:
Paid National Trust entry. Parking on site. Easy walking across the gardens.

Best Time to Visit:
Spring for rhododendrons, summer for reflections in the moat, autumn for colours around the valley, winter for clear views of the ruin.

Nearby:

Autumn, Battle, East Sussex, England, High Weald, Historic Estates, History, September, South East, UK

Battle Abbey – 1066 From Above

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Introduction

Early one September morning, I filmed Battle Abbey from the town square as golden light hit the stone gatehouse. From there I launched the drone to get a full view of the site — the gatehouse, the surviving ranges, the ruins of the abbey church, and the fields where King Harold was said to have fallen in 1066.

Watch the 4k video below:

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The Abbey and Its Origins

Battle Abbey was founded by William the Conqueror as an act of penance following the Battle of Hastings in 1066. According to tradition, the high altar of the abbey church was placed on the very spot where King Harold was killed, marking the turning point in English history.

The abbey grew into one of Sussex’s most important monastic houses. Much of what stands today is the 14th-century gatehouse, built over an earlier Norman core, controlling access to the precinct.

The Gatehouse and Precinct

The gatehouse dominates the town square and remains one of the most complete medieval monastic gatehouses in England. It was both a symbol of authority and a checkpoint controlling access to the abbey’s lands and storehouses.

Battle abbey gatehouse catching the morning golden hour side light
The impressive battle abbey gatehouse in east Sussex south east England UK

Behind it lies the west range, which survived largely intact because it was reused after the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII. It became a private residence and later Battle Abbey School, which still occupies the buildings today.

The Ruins and the Battlefield

Little remains of the abbey church and cloister, but from the air the plan is still visible — the cloister to the south, chapter house and dormitory to the east, and refectory on the south range.

battle abbey ruins drone view
battle abbey ruins

Beyond the walls stretch the fields traditionally known as the 1066 battlefield, where Harold’s army faced William’s Norman forces. Alternative theories place the battle at Caldbec Hill or Crowhurst, but Battle remains the most widely accepted site.

A Site of Survival

Battle Abbey’s condition today owes much to reuse and repair. Unlike the weathered civic gates of Rye and Winchelsea, this monastic gatehouse was adapted, maintained, and lived in. English Heritage now manages the site, preserving both the ruins and the memory of England’s defining battle.

Practical Info

Location: Battle, East Sussex
Access: Public entrance via the town square; English Heritage admission applies
Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon for light on the stonework
Nearby:

  • Hastings Castle – Norman stronghold overlooking the coast
  • Rye Town Gate – A surviving medieval gate from the Cinque Ports
  • Winchelsea Gates – Civic fortifications from the same period
Autumn, East Sussex, England, High Weald, Historic Estates, History, October, South East, Sussex, UK

Ashburnham Place – Autumn Reflections on a Lost Sussex Estate

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Introduction

Ashburnham Place lies deep in the High Weald near Battle, once home to one of Sussex’s oldest landed families. By mid-October the trees here turn gold and amber, and walking the lakeside paths offers a glimpse of both natural beauty and a long English lineage.

Watch the short video below:

A calm autumn morning among Capability Brown’s sweeping parkland and St Peter’s Church.

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The Ashburnham Legacy

The Ashburnham family took their name from the nearby village and rose to prominence through loyalty to the Crown and ownership of vast Sussex lands. John Ashburnham (1603–1671) served King Charles I during the Civil War and was later rewarded by Charles II, cementing the family’s wealth and influence.

Ashburnham place stone bridge autumn
Ashburnham place stone bridge autumn

Their estates extended across Sussex and into London, where the name still survives in Ashburnham Road and the Ashburnham Mansion Block in Chelsea.

The Lost House

The grand mansion at Ashburnham Place once stood as one of the county’s finest houses. Most of it was demolished in the 1950s, leaving only the west wing—now called the Coachman’s House.

Ashburnham place ancient beech woodland
Ashburnham place ancient beech woodland

The surrounding park was landscaped in the 18th century by Lancelot “Capability” Brown, with the Broad Water lake as its centrepiece.

Church and Landscape

Beside the lake stands St Peter’s Church, resting place of generations of the Ashburnham family. Inside are marble memorials and heraldic tablets that trace the family’s reach from medieval times to the 19th century. The church and lake remain the quiet heart of the estate, framed by autumn colours and Brown’s designed vistas.

A Landed Family in Decline

Like many great estates, Ashburnham’s fortunes faded as agricultural income fell. Heavy maintenance costs and post-war taxes forced the sale and demolition of much of the house. The remaining property became a Christian retreat centre, preserving part of the grounds for public enjoyment.

Practical Info

Location: Near Battle, East Sussex, on the High Weald. There is free parking and the Orangey café. No dog walking.
Access: Public footpaths lead around Broad Water and St Peter’s Church.
Best Time to Visit: Mid- to late autumn for colour, or spring for reflections on the lake.

Nearby: Battle Abbey – site of the 1066 Battle of Hastings; Penhurst Church – quiet Wealden village with medieval features; Bateman’s – Rudyard Kipling’s former home at Burwash.