Sutton Valence Castle, Kent

Our journey begins with a very short walk along the hedges and shrubs towards the entrance of the ruins, the lovely historic village is placed high above the Kentish weald and not far from the neighbouring town of Maidstone. Once entering you’re met with a set of stairs that lead you above to the only remaining part of Sutton Valence castle.

The castle was owned by a succession of very important medieval lords and earls and was located in a powerful and strong position overlooking the main road from Maidstone to Winchelsea. The castle was built in the second half of the 12^th century and would have once been a huge site with an inner and outer bailey and a protective barbican with a three storey high keep on the south side, this keep is what we are able to walk around today.

After being passed through a number of households, it was passed on to Simon de Montfort in 1238, who was the 6^th earl of Leister who led and fought for one of England’s first real parliament. Unfortunately as a leader of the rebellion against his wife’s brother Henry III later in 1265 for the Battle of Evesham, Simon was head hunted quite literally, he was quickly killed and mutilated, his limbs and genitals were hacked off and his corpse was beheaded, Roger Mortimer claimed the head as a trophy and set it back home to Wigmore castle as a gift for his wife.

This would have been an odd conversation over the dinner table!

Since Simons death the castle and his estates were taken by the crown and Henry III gave the castle to his half brother William de Valence as a reward for his ongoing support during the rebellion. The village of Sutton became known as Sutton Valence.

Sometimes its hard to imagine just what this castle would have once looked like back in it’s day with how overgrown and ruinous the place is, but from research the site would have been very impressive and would have once dominated the town and been strongly defendable against attacks.

The castle would once have stood within curtain walls taking up the entire hillside. Old photographs also show another tower which has since vanished. The great tower which we can see now would have stood to three stories in height. You can still see breaks in the walls which would have been used as latrines, or possibly as cupboards. Only one wall of the keep stands to any height now, reaching about 22 feet. There was also once a bailey surrounding the keep, but this was later filled in.

The history here goes on and is very interesting once you delve into it, but a visit here is so incredible as it’s important to remember these smaller forgotten places as one day, sadly they wont be here to tell the story. We’re just glad we got the chance to wander here.

If you liked the blog please hit that like button, watch the full video below and consider subscribing if you haven’t already.

Till Next Time!