Westenhanger Castle Timeline
1035, King Cnut grants a half sulung (aratrum) at Berwick (Westenhanger), Kent, to Bishop Eadsige; dated 1035, with English bounds (Sawyer, no. 974).Endorsed in the hand of the charter, ‘Boc to bereƿican ÷’; in a 12th-century hand, ‘Cnuth rex dedit berewike eadsino episcopo’; and in another 12th-century hand, ‘.latine.’
1035 Held by King Cnute.
1086 On land possibly held by William de Eddisham (Addisham).
1189-1199 During: Held by the Auberville family.
1035 Held by King Cnute.
1086 On land possibly held by William de Eddisham (Addisham).
1189-1199 During: Held by the Auberville family.
1272 Held by William de Auberville.
1272-1461 Held by the Criol family through the marriage of Joane Auberville to Nicholas Criol.
1343c: Built. Curtain wall, bastion, moat, when a licence to crenellate was granted to Sir John de Criol. Possibly a defended Hall or Palace with a moat and pallisade were improved upon.
1346 Sir John Criol obtained a licence for a chantry.
1379 Held by Sir Nicholas de Criol, who died.
1381 Attacked by Sir John Cornwall.
1461 Second Battle of St. Albans: Held by Sir Thomas Criol (Keriel) who died in the Battle fighting for York. He left two daughters and when his lands were divided between them, Westernhanger went to Alice, who was married to John Fogge.
1272-1461 Held by the Criol family through the marriage of Joane Auberville to Nicholas Criol.
1343c: Built. Curtain wall, bastion, moat, when a licence to crenellate was granted to Sir John de Criol. Possibly a defended Hall or Palace with a moat and pallisade were improved upon.
1346 Sir John Criol obtained a licence for a chantry.
1379 Held by Sir Nicholas de Criol, who died.
1381 Attacked by Sir John Cornwall.
1461 Second Battle of St. Albans: Held by Sir Thomas Criol (Keriel) who died in the Battle fighting for York. He left two daughters and when his lands were divided between them, Westernhanger went to Alice, who was married to John Fogge.
1461-1490 Held by Sir Thomas Fogge.
1490 Sir Thomas Fogge, son of Alice and John Fogge, sold his interest in the lands to Sir John Fogge.
1490-1509 Held by John Fogge.
* Sir John Fogge sold it to Sir Edward Poynings.
1509-1523 Held by Sir Edward Poynings.
1521 Sir Edward Poynings died, without legitimate issue, however, he had three illegitimate sons, who died in his lifetime, leaving four illegitimate daughters.
1381 Attacked by Sir John Cornwall.
1461 Second Battle of St. Albans: Held by Sir Thomas Criol (Keriel) who died in the Battle fighting for York. He left two daughters and when his lands were divided between them, Westernhanger went to Alice, who was married to John Fogge.
1490 Sir Thomas Fogge, son of Alice and John Fogge, sold his interest in the lands to Sir John Fogge.
1490-1509 Held by John Fogge.
* Sir John Fogge sold it to Sir Edward Poynings.
1509-1523 Held by Sir Edward Poynings.
1521 Sir Edward Poynings died, without legitimate issue, however, he had three illegitimate sons, who died in his lifetime, leaving four illegitimate daughters.
1381 Attacked by Sir John Cornwall.
1461 Second Battle of St. Albans: Held by Sir Thomas Criol (Keriel) who died in the Battle fighting for York. He left two daughters and when his lands were divided between them, Westernhanger went to Alice, who was married to John Fogge.
1461-1490 Held by Sir Thomas Fogge.
1490 Sir Thomas Fogge, son of Alice and John Fogge, sold his interest in the lands to Sir John Fogge.
1490-1509 Held by John Fogge.
* Sir John Fogge sold it to Sir Edward Poynings.
1509-1523 Held by Sir Edward Poynings.
1521 Sir Edward Poynings died, without legitimate issue, however, he had three illegitimate sons, who died in his lifetime, leaving four illegitimate daughters.
1523-1547 Held by Henry VIII.
1547 Edward VI granted it to John Dudley, Earl of Warwick.
1547-1553 Held by Edward VI.
1549 John Dudley returned it to Edward VI in exchange for other lands.
1550 Edward VI granted it to Edward Fynes, Lord Clinton.
* Edward Fynes, Lord Clinton sold it to Richard Sackville, Esq.
1553-1558 Held by Queen Mary.
1565 Richard Sackville died and it went to the Crown.
1490 Sir Thomas Fogge, son of Alice and John Fogge, sold his interest in the lands to Sir John Fogge.
1490-1509 Held by John Fogge.
* Sir John Fogge sold it to Sir Edward Poynings.
1509-1523 Held by Sir Edward Poynings.
1521 Sir Edward Poynings died, without legitimate issue, however, he had three illegitimate sons, who died in his lifetime, leaving four illegitimate daughters.
1523-1547 Held by Henry VIII.
1547 Edward VI granted it to John Dudley, Earl of Warwick.
1547-1553 Held by Edward VI.
1549 John Dudley returned it to Edward VI in exchange for other lands.
1550 Edward VI granted it to Edward Fynes, Lord Clinton.
* Edward Fynes, Lord Clinton sold it to Richard Sackville, Esq.
1553-1558 Held by Queen Mary.
1565 Richard Sackville died and it went to the Crown.
1573 Elizabeth I stayed at the castle, which was being looked after by Thomas, Lord Buckhurst, son of Richard Sackville.
1585 Elizabeth I granted it to Thomas Smythe, Esq. He repaired and improved the castle which had previously been damaged by fire.
1585-1591 Held by Thomas Smythe.
1591 Thomas Smythe, Esq. died and his son, Sir John Smythe, inherited.
1591-1701 Held by the Smythe family.
16th C Farmhouse. Barn.
1609 Sir John Smythe died and his son, John, inherited.
1628 John Smythe was created Viscount Strongford.
* John Smythe, Viscount Strongford, and his son, Philip, Viscount Strongford, sold it to Trustees.
1682 c: The Trustees sold it to Finch for £1,000.
1701 Held by Finch.
1701 Finch demolished ⅔ of the house and the chapel, and sold it to Justinian Champnies, Esq. who built a small house on the site of the mostly demolished buildings, with the old materials.
1585 Elizabeth I granted it to Thomas Smythe, Esq. He repaired and improved the castle which had previously been damaged by fire.
1585-1591 Held by Thomas Smythe.
1591 Thomas Smythe, Esq. died and his son, Sir John Smythe, inherited.
1591-1701 Held by the Smythe family.
16th C Farmhouse. Barn.
1609 Sir John Smythe died and his son, John, inherited.
1628 John Smythe was created Viscount Strongford.
* John Smythe, Viscount Strongford, and his son, Philip, Viscount Strongford, sold it to Trustees.
1682 c: The Trustees sold it to Finch for £1,000.
1701 Held by Finch.
1701 Finch demolished ⅔ of the house and the chapel, and sold it to Justinian Champnies, Esq. who built a small house on the site of the mostly demolished buildings, with the old materials.
1748 Justinian Champnies died and his son, Justinian (2), inherited.
1754 Justinian Champnies (2) died and left it to Henry, his younger brother.
1781 Henry died and his great nephew William-Henry Burt, inherited.
1799 Held by William-Henry Burt.
18th C Late: Two storey brick built house built on the site.
1839-1883 Held by the Smythe family.
1898-1996 Held by Folkestone Racecourse.
1962 Field Investigation.
1969 Field Investigation.
1996 Held by the Forge family.
1998 Architectural Survey by B. Martin, D. Martin, Archaeology South East.
1999 Evaluated by C. Johnson, Archaeology South East.
2002 Scheduled.
2019 Sold to Folkestone & Hythe District Council. Venue for wedding ceremonies.
1754 Justinian Champnies (2) died and left it to Henry, his younger brother.
1781 Henry died and his great nephew William-Henry Burt, inherited.
1799 Held by William-Henry Burt.
18th C Late: Two storey brick built house built on the site.
1839-1883 Held by the Smythe family.
1898-1996 Held by Folkestone Racecourse.
1962 Field Investigation.
1969 Field Investigation.
1996 Held by the Forge family.
1998 Architectural Survey by B. Martin, D. Martin, Archaeology South East.
1999 Evaluated by C. Johnson, Archaeology South East.
2002 Scheduled.
2019 Sold to Folkestone & Hythe District Council. Venue for wedding ceremonies.