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269:. The existing parkland was also developed at the same time, and the terraced gardens, and entrance lodge on the present B2099, were added. The castle was purchased by Edward Watson-Smyth in 1844, and he enlarged it to the north-east and also further extended the parkland. After the First World War, parts of the estate were sold off, the northern part being developed as housing, the present Castle Walk. The gardens are also Grade II listed. The castle is now a licensed venue for weddings.
377:. He was a keen sportsman and travelled to many countries for big game hunting. In 1891 he married Ethel Renton who was the daughter of James Hall Renton. The couple had two sons but unfortunately she died in 1896. He married again in 1901. His new wife was Annora Margaret Williams-Wynn (1861-1954) and they had two daughters. When Willam died in 1918 the last Watson-Smyth owner inherited the house. He was George Robert Watson-Smyth.
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Benjamin died in 1849 and the house was put on the market for sale. Edward Watson-Smyth bought the property. In 1846, he had married Mary
Elizabeth Georgiana Watson Hay (1820-1900) and moved into the castle ith his bride. During his ownership he enlarged the castle to the north east and extended the parkland. The couple had no children so when Edward died in 1869 he left the property to his brother Robert Watson-Smyth.
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purposes. He had other properties in
Australia and he returned there to live with his wife. He died in Tasmania in 1945. In 1947 the house was advertised for sale. In 1955 the Fitzgerald family purchased Wadhurst Castle and the estate is now in the joint ownership of the Fitzgerald and Clough families.
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In 1826 Henry exchanged the property for a house in France with Aylmer Haly (full name
Richard Aylmer Haly) (1772-1851). He was a captain in the 4th Kings Own Regiment. In 1803 he married Amelia Bannister who was the only daughter of Richard Bannister of Newington Place. The couple had five children
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as a partner in the Bank. He was elected as a
Director of the French Hospital there in 1788. His father died in 1802 and he received a substantial inheritance. He did not marry and when he died he left his estate in trust to Henry Talbot until he came of age. In 1820 the trustees decided to rent the
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and lost his leg. In 1917 he married
Madeleine Mary Pedder (1889-1972) and the couple had three children. They lived at Wadhurst Castle for some years and in about 1927 converted part of the castle to a country club that could be used as a club for the golf course on adjoining grounds. He sold the
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Robert Watson-Smyth (1814-1884) was a wealthy landowner. In 1845 he married Louisa
Maxfield and the couple had six children. The 1881 Census records them living at Wadhurst Castle with three of their daughters, a butler, a cook, a ladies maid and three domestic servants. When Robert died, in 1884,
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In the following year it was sold to Alfred
Charles Matthews (1886-1945), an architect. He repaired the castle and lived there for some time with his wife Alice Esther (née Robbins). He advertised the house for sale in 1939. However he did not sell it and soon after it was requisitioned for war
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to remodel the Castle. The drawings were exhibited at the Royal
Academy. The Winter Garden was added and the outside of the castle was embellished with further turrets, spires and window tracery. The existing parkland was also developed, and the terraced gardens and entrance lodge were added.
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became a famous general. Aylmer extended the area around the property by buying nearby farms and also changed its name from
Maplehurst to Wadhurst Castle. In about 1840 he sold it to Benjamin Harding.
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First built in 1818-20 by James Louis West, on the site of the farmhouse of
Maplehurst, it was bought by Benjamin Harding in 1838, for whom it was remodelled to its present appearance by the architect
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property in 1931 to Paul Geoffrey Bankart who continued operating the castle as a country club. Then in 1933 there was a serious fire at the house which damaged a substantial part of the building.
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James Louis West (1761-1819) built Wadhurst Castle (then called Maplehurst) in about 1818. At this time he was living in
332:. In 1840 he married Louisa Le Neve (born Thacker) who was the widow of George Le Neve. She was the personal friend of
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George Robert Watson-Smyth (1892-1964) went to War at the age of 22. He was a captain in
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Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser - Friday 23 September 1927, p. 8.
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Benjamin Harding (1800-1849) was a landowner and Justice of the Peace of
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527:“List of the officers of the Bengal army, 1758-1834, part IV”, p. 429.
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Rental notice for Wadhurst Castle (then called Maplehurst Castle) 1820
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is a 19th-century castellated mansion just to the west of the town of
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his son William Douglas Watson-Smyth inherited the property.
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for some time. He resigned in 1791 and joined his father in
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Kent & Sussex Courier - Friday 13 October 1933, p. 11.
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Selby, W. D, 1911, The genealogist, Vol 27, 1911, p. 231.
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Kent & Sussex Courier - Friday 15 February 1918, p.3.
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William Douglas Watson-Smyth (1852-1918) was educated at
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house and an advertisement was placed in the newspapers.
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who founded one of the banks which in later years became
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The Exhibition of the Royal Academy, Volume 69, p. 52.
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Robert and Louisa Watson Smyth and their family in 1860
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Kent & Sussex Courier - Friday 18 July 1947, p. 1.
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188:National Register of Historic Parks and Gardens
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575:Lee, Elizabeth 1914 “Ouida: a memoir”, p. 17.
18:Castellated villa in Sparrows Green, Wadhurst
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563:English Heritage Register “Wadhurst Castle”
744:Gothic Revival architecture in East Sussex
241:Location of Wadhurst Castle in East Sussex
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304:In his youth James was an officer in the
739:Grade II listed buildings in East Sussex
365:Sale notice for Wadhurst Castle in 1939.
551:The Gentlemans Magazine, 1803, p. 689.
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671:The Advocate, 24 December 1945, p. 2.
620:The Court and Ladies Magazine, p, 36.
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35:A wedding at Wadhurst Castle in 2009
503:The London Gazette, 1816, p. 1046.
462:National Heritage List for England
431:National Heritage List for England
384:. In 1915 he was badly wounded in
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759:Edward Buckton Lamb buildings
641:The British Empire website.
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403:William O'Grady Haly
323:William O'Grady Haly
83:51.06392°N 0.33166°E
338:Edward Buckton Lamb
267:Edward Buckton Lamb
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100:OS grid reference
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287:Countisbury
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62:Coordinates
733:Categories
409:References
195:Designated
164:Designated
158:– Grade II
71:51°03′50″N
375:Cambridge
140:Architect
74:0°19′54″E
764:Wadhurst
489:12 March
468:12 March
256:Wadhurst
56:Wadhurst
51:Location
299:NatWest
207:1001272
176:1028052
129:1818–20
437:5 June
386:France
330:Sussex
314:London
295:London
310:India
291:Devon
123:Built
491:2016
470:2016
439:2020
373:and
371:Eton
113:Area
41:Type
289:in
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