GAZATTEER

Westenhanger Castle is a medieval, fortified, manor house extended and improved by Thomas “Customer” Smythe who was Queen Elizabeth I’s Customs Master. Among his improvements was the fine stone barn. It is 114 ft long, 26 ft wide and averages 17 ft to the eaves. It has two pairs of Wagon porches, but its main glory is the “hammer beam” roof. There are ten superb “hammer beam” trusses which divide the barn into eleven bays. Another unusual feature is that the barn was built over the East Stour River which is carried in a culvert under the end of the barn.

Check the website www.westenhangercastle.co.uk
for opening times.