Notes of the Remains of Westenhangar House, Kent

(. 76 ) NOTES ON THE REMAINS OF WESTENHANGER HOUSE, KENT. BY GEORGE CLINCH, F.G.S., F.S.A. (SCO'l'.) WEsTENH.A.NGER HousE, or such part of it as still exists, is situated in the parish of Stanford, about four miles west of Hythe. Formerly, Westenhauger was a separate parish, but its church is demolished, and its lands have long been joilled to the parish of which it now forms a part. Seen from the railway the ivy-clad ruins form a strildng and pictul'esque group. The remains are evidently those of a large and important house,.and closer inspection and study confirm the impression that it was also a place of great a,rchreological and historical interest. There are two traditions connecting W estenhanger with very early times. One ascribes to it the distinction of having been a royal residence during· the heptarchy. There is nothing really impossible or improbable in this tradition. The kings of Kent doubtless had their houses in various parts of their kingdom, and Westenha11ger may well have been one of them. Of course the matte1· must be received merely as a tradition, lacking both positive proof and t􀃫e confirmation of contemporary 1·emains. It may be added that a natural spring feeds the moat, and the site is peculiarly well suited for defensive residence. The second piece of ti·adition relates jto a later period. Popular legend associatet this house with the story of Rosamond Clifford, commonly known as "Fair Rosamond," the mistress of Henry II. ; and one of the towers is actually pointed out n,s the scene of her death. Apart from the fact that several other places in the kingdom have been claimed as Rosamond's Bower, there are three. good reasons which make it impossible to accept this -tradition : (1) the archiWESTENHANGER HOUSE, KENT. 77 tecture 0£ the tower is of an age several centuries later than Rosamond's time; (2) there is no evidence that Rosamond Clifford was ever here; and (3) the whole story, romantic, tragic, and circumstantial as it is, appears to be without. foundation of fact. The various printed accounts of Westenhanger contain much interesting, although sometimes confradictory information as to the age of the building. It is .not considered necessary, however, in a brief paper like this, to do more than give a list of the authorities {see page 8). But pedrn,ps one quaint and very brief account by Leland muy here find a place: '' Ostinghaungre was Crea.ls lordeship, of sum now corruptly called Westemrnger. ·Poynings a la,te halr the date 18 Aug·ust 1343, records the gTanting of a "Liceuce for John de Kil'iel to crenelate his dwelling-place of Westyngehangre, co. Kent."t For reasons which will be expla,ined presently it does not seem certain that John de Kiriel i111mediately mn