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Perfect night at Scotney Castle

Scotney Castle is a ruined fortification in Lamberhurst, Kent in the South East of England. It's popular with tourists not only for the construction itself but likewise for the picturesque grounds and the romantic setting.

History

Scotney Castle was reinforced in the fourteenth century, probably by one Roger Ashburnham.

Although it is called a "castle" it was in reality a manor house designed to be heavily fortified and withstand attack. The fourteenth century wasn't an especially peaceful time and towns in the southward of England were at constant peril from French marauders.

For several hundred years Scotney Castle was the ancestral home of the Darrell family. Edward Hussey arranged to buy the palace in the eighteenth century and he had built a new residence overlooking the original building. This is frequently referred to as the "new castle".

In 1970 the land was taken over by the National Trust.

Father Blount

Scotney Castle is possibly most noted for the sixteenth century activities of Father Richard Blount. Thomas Darrell had added numerous priest holes to the building - these were secret chambers that could be exploited for hiding priests fleeing state persecution (Catholicism was illegal in England at that time). Father Blount was a Jesuit priest who, with the service of Darrell, lived in the castle and conducted religious services for local Kent Catholics. Blount's activities continued from 1591 to 1598 when his position was betrayed and the government attempted to get him. The priest-holes of Scotney hid him good and the authorites spent many days looking for him during two raids. Blount was assisted by bad weather that hampered the research and finally he escaped over a back wall and out through the moat.

The Dripping Ghost

Like all good castles, Scotney has its own ghost. This is the heart of a man that haunts the palace and is commonly described as dripping wet.

Arthur Darrell occupied the palace in the eighteenth century until he was unlawful for smuggling and fled. He reportedly died abroad and his trunk was returned home for burial 1720. However Darrell is not the specter of Scotney Castle. Rather it is suggested that despite the burial he was nevertheless very much alive.

It's said that Darrell faked his own death so that he could keep his smuggling operations without dread of pursuit. The shade of Scotney Castle is aforesaid to be that of a Taxation Officer who discovered Darrell's secret. Darrell then allegedly killed the unfortunate civil servant, weighed his body down and threw it into the moat. It is from the moat that the spectral figure is sometimes seen emerging today.

The history of Darrell's faked death is given credence by the fact that in 1924 his coffin was opened - and ground to take nothing but stones. So if that portion of the report is true, could the spooky tales of the dripping ghost also be correct?