More information : [TQ 6885 5891] Leybourne Castle on site of Leybourne Castle [NR]Moat [NR] (1)
Leybourne - a minor castle erected temp. Richard I. A great part of the walls may be Norman but it is generally of Henry III. A ruined,
machicolated gateway is perhaps Edward III and has two drum towers. The Hall has vanished but one of the ranges which remains seems to have lain next to it and contained apartments. The remains of the chapel are a short distance to the north and it had an arched porch. A dwelling-house was erected in the 16th century which was converted into a farmhouse during the past century. [Descent of manor given from Domesday to date of writing]. (2)
The gateway of Leybourne Castle, of about 1300, has a [water] shoot, the stone work of which is intact ... the slot resembling that of a letter box, measures 1ft 7.5ins by 2ins. On the inside it opens funnel-shaped in the sill of the window about the slot. There are
indications that it was lined with lead. (3)
....the ....gatehouse ....of the castle of Leybourne ... shows a
bulge ...containing latrines. (4)
Additional references. (5,6)
Rebuilt as a modern house, January 1931, and very well done. (7)
Leybourne Castle (name confirmed by owner) is a modern house built in 16th century style incorporating the remains of the earlier castle. Of the original castle little now remains except the gatehouse, the chapel and a fragment of a wall-tower, all contained within a small, near circular bailey and surrounded by a (probably dry) moat, the east quadrant of which has been destroyed. The gatehouse, partly incorporated in the modern house comprises a gateway flanked by two drum towers intact to first floor level, which retain a number of original features including arrow-loops, portcullis grooves, the water-shoot referred to by Toy and an old well in the east drum tower.. (see GPs AO/59/56/8 - from south west and 59/57/1 and 2 from north east and north west).
The shell of the chapel remains but it has been modernised and re-roofed and few original features survive.
(See GP AO/59/57/3 from north east).
A fragment only of the (?SE) wall-tower is now standing to approx
first-floor level including a window: it is probably contemporary
with the gatehouse (ie. 1300) (See GP AO/59/57/4 - from west).
A 25" survey has been carried out. (8)
Checked and correct. (9)
Leybourne Castle. Grade II*. Close to the church are the remains of a castle of Norman foundation. The chief remnant is the gateway built during the reign of Edward III. [For full description see list]. (10)
Leybourne Castle. From the road one sees only the Walter Godfrey's sophisticated essay of 1930 in a free Cotswold vernacular. Why he chose this far from obvious style is explained on the north side, by the lower half of a fortified stone gatehouse. Two broad semi-circular turrets and a triple-chambered depressed arch between them, arrow-slits in the turrets and widish square windows above. Portcullis groove and the beginning of an upper arch over the entrance. The entrance passage had a rib vault. Internally evidence of upper rooms and a vaulted garderobe in the round-ended addition to the right turret. No securely dateable feature. Would the early 14th century fit best? Part of a round turret stands detached from the south end of the house. The outbuilding to the west of it has medieval walls. The enraving in Harris's History of Kent, 1719, suggests that these fragments belonged to a not quite regular rectangle of curtain walls. But old drawings show a confused medieval building on the site of the present house, with one trefoiled window. (11)
Leybourne Castle - full description. (12)
TQ 688 589 Leybourne Castle. Listed as a moated site in the County checklists for Kent 1977 and 1979. (13-14)
TQ 688589. Leybourne Castle (uninhabited parts) scheduled, county number 35. (15)
Listed by Cathcart King. (16) |