Whitstable Castle and Gardens

During the 15th Century Queen Elizabeth I gave permission to erect mining sites on the Tankerton Slopes. This was due to a need for alum, a mineral used in the dying of fabrics. Various processing sites were built on what is now the Whitstable Castle and it’s surrounding grounds. This all changed in 1773 when Elizabeth Radford inherited the Tankerton Manor. After marrying Charles Pearson, a London businessman, they bought up much of the land around the manor including the majority of mineral processing sites thus beginning what we now consider to be the Whitstable Castle. Primarily remaining within the Pearson family, the castle ground grew over the years until being purchased by the council in the 30s. Nowadays it is looked after by a trust who maintain its grounds and provide a fantastic visitor service for those looking to explore or hire the castle grounds. Open 7 days a week, visitors can discover the wonderful Orangey Tearooms. Here you can marvel over brilliant views of castle grounds whilst sampling freshly baked scones and mouth-watering cakes with your cream tea. The Tearooms also offer an afternoon tea session which can be booked a day in advance for a reasonable price, and the option to upgrade to a few Proseccos should not be overlooked. The beautiful castle grounds are the perfect location to hire for a plethora of uses. Community events such as yoga, dance and educational classes are commonplace, as are charity events that utilise the open outdoor space. For those looking to secure the ideal spot for their big day that castle offers an elegant wedding package that gives you multiple options on what spaces you want within the castle. The same is true for all memorial events and celebrations. The Castle is also a hub of local events, hosting antiques and vintage fairs as well as a variety of seasonal events that cater to the whole family.