Tonbridge Castle

Tonbridge Castle

Tonbridge Castle is an early Norman conquest Motte and Bailey, covering one of the few Medway crossings. Its history and development into a strong 13th Century fortress and subsequent decline is described by Wadmore in Arch. Cant. XVI.

The ruins of the curtain walls, motte, splendid sandstone Gatehouse of the highest quality workmanship were bought by the Tonbridge Urban District Council in 1898 and at about ten year intervals until the outbreak of the second world war waterproofing and repairs were carried out where thought necessary. By 1952 stones were falling from the walls which were decaying and dangerous and vegetation had a strong grip on the fabric. From 1954 until 1966 the Urban Council took down most of the walls, stabilized the core and masonry and repainted and waterproofed the structure.

From 1966 until 1979 day to day preventative maintenance was carried out promptly on a 'stitch-in-time' principle. From 1979 until the end of 1985 despite pressure from inside and outside the new Tonbridge and Malling Council about vegetation, falling stones, vandalism and dangerous decay no proper maintenance was done.

Early in 1986 as a result of press, radio and television stories of Tonbridge's 'crumbling castle' six groups of architects were asked to submit schemes for the castle; as a result Peter Beake and Partners were elected to prepare a feasibility study on the lines of a brief given them. In November 1986 they proposed to roof and floor the Gatehouse and presented a first class report on the state of the stonework, its preservation and maintenance and estimates of its costs. English Heritage required the roof and floors to be a removable free-standing structure and this was to be done with tubular steel columns and cantilevered floors and roof.

The Tonbridge Civic Society and the Tonbridge Historical Society were kept fully informed by the Council and the Architects, who had been greatly helped by the latter; the Civic Society thought the only way to get money for the castle was to support the scheme whereas the Historical Society thought the 'honest ruin' principle was more helpful to an understanding of the castle and that the scheme was a 'bad buy'. Both Societies urged action on repairs and maintenance. The Council did not know what they would use the 'Enhanced' castle for but after a site meeting put a sum in excess of half a million pounds in the Capital Budget for both 'Enhancement' and 'Preservation' although neither project was fully priced.

In July 1988 the tenders for 'Enhancement' and the preservation of the curtain walls came in well over the estimated costs. It was decided to put aside £20,000 for additional consultants 'to progress the scheme'. The Tonbridge Civic Society then supported the view that the 'Enhancement' scheme should be abandoned in favour of maintaining the castle as an 'honest ruin'. New tenders were sought.

In September 1988 the additional consultants, Heritage Projects, were appointed to advise on what use could be made of the Gatehouse. Szerelmey were appointed to carry out work to the curtain walls and started in the first week of November 1988. With the mild weather and the good summer so far they have made excellent progress on clearing and destroying deep rooted vegetation, stabilising and pointing the corework, the ashlar of the South-East isolated wall and part of the South wall and the remains of the shell keep. Thought is being given to the stability and access to the Motte and the structural engineers are to report on ways of stabilising the exposed shallow footings of the curtain wall between the Gatehouse and the Motte exposed by erosion and children sliding down the slope. No information is available about arrangements for the other remedial works to the gatehouse nor for specialized day to day inspections and specialist maintenance.

In June 1989 the report from Heritage Projects was presented to the Council's Castle Committee. A highly professional and comprehensive report on tourism and marketing it suggested roofing and flooring the Gatehouse but to a very different design than the removable structure previously insisted upon by English Heritage and on which tenders were originally sought and set aside.

Attention is drawn to the interesting light which might be thrown on the castle by archaeological investigations of the buildings known to have been built inside the South curtain wall and now beneath the Bailey lawn and the Shell Keep foundations on the Motte.

The structure would house static displays of living conditions and historic events connected with the castle. Some suggestions are good and some, such as dividing up the single large top floor room with its noble proportions and perfect symmetry into a banqueting and sleeping chamber are sad.

The estimated costs are about £1,600,000. Heritage Projects are unable to invest their own money in the project.

At the time of writing the Council's decision on the report is not known but the Officers have clearly indicated that the sums of money involved are at present outside the Capital Budget and that other works would be necessary outside the castle grounds to meet the forecast increased traffic envisaged in the Consultants cash flow calculations.

The Council's intention is clearly to continue with putting right all the damage caused by past omissions but the problem of keeping in sight the dangers of neglecting simple maintenance in a situation where re-organizations and changes of personnel are frequent remain as a constant shadow.

Sydney Simmons.
Tonbridge Historical Society