The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-09-03


/ he there erected. there was tho basis
OF more ancient building discovered:
and many economical vessels of the
Roman antique mode traced out In that
place" Harris says, that during the
time of the Heptarchy. this castle
vas under the care OF the KINGS Of
Kent. and King Wighred. in partlcu-
lar. fortified 1t. and made 1t a place Of
/ strength and defense; but 1t was at.
! forwards sacked and demolished BY
the Danes. in their incursions into
these parts"
( Confeesor 1t was called Chileham.)
Coughs Edit. Vol l. p .2l5.
Sir Thomas Mnnners.
Sir Thomas resided here for some
years. having added much to the
grandeur OF tho buildinss."' which,
says Lambard from Leland, were mot
only commodious for use. and beauti-
ful for pleasure, but strong for defence
and resistance" Afterwards, however.
he removed to his Manor of shurland.
in the Isle of Shepey. where he erect.
ed new and splendid mansion. part
| y with the materials of the buildings
al Chilham Castle. His son, Henry.
Lord Chcyney, wasted his possessions
by extravag ance. and rude wassaling:'
and IN the tenth of Elizabeth alianated
all his estates hare. to Sir Thomas
Kemp. from whose daughters and CO.
/ heiresses, Sir Dudley Digges obtained
them as already mentioned. The out
er walls of the castle are greatly d.
lapidated but seem to have formed an
F., irregular parallelogram including an
area of several acres, and being sur
rounded by broad ditch. which, to-
wards the northwest. is still very bold
and deep. The form OF the keep Is
singular, It being an irregular octa-
gon OF three stories. the uppermost of
which appears to have contained the
! state apartments. Tho walls, which
are venersoly mantled with Ivy, are
from ten TO twelve feet in thickness.
exclusive of square addition on the
east side, In the midst of which Is
circular staircase. The interior has
been greatly altered snd slmaged,
the lower part having been used as o
brewhouse. and the upper rooms fitted
up for kitchen. billiard room, etc
| The view from the platform Is very
extensive and beautiful. Tho whole
building seems to have been faced
with squared stones. The inner parts
are of 1nts. chalk, and stone, Inter
mingled. The supply OF water was
obtained from two wells: one of which
is within small Enclosure attached
TO the keep itself: and the other In
the outer are<: the latter is still In
use.
AT little distance northwards from
the castle. is the village and church
of Chilham: the latter. which IS dedi-
Gated to st. Mary. is built in the form
OF cross. with an embattled tower
at the west end. The nave is separated
from the aisles by four large pointed
arches. on each side. rising from oc.
tagonal columns; and the tower opens
to the nave by sharp pointed arch
Inc north end of the transept is sep
Grated by a high partition from the
rest OF the church. and used for
sehool and vestry. On the north side
f. OF the chancel Is the splendid mauso-
leum of the Colebrooks. which was
built under the direction of the late Sir
| Robert Taylor, about the year 1855
| The interior forms a circle OF nearly
twenty-four feet diameter Independent
OF the basement. which projects eigh-
teen inches. 1t is divided into eight
compartments by Ionic, columns. which
support broad entablature and cor
nice. crowned by rich dome and
cupola. In the soffit of the arch
which forms the entrance. and occupies
one OF the compartments. Is this in
ecription:
'Hasted's Kent, Vol. VII. p. 27s.
| M S. Jacob colebrooke. Armigeri ct
Mariae Conjusis b. NJ. Pietatis ergo
posuere Tres Fiji ct sibi ct suis
Robertus Colehrooke. Jacobus Cole
brooke ,Georgius Colebrook"
Each of the other compartments con-
talns six recesses for collins, made In
the thickness of the wall, which meas
urea from eight to ten feet This
mausoleum occupies part OF the site
OF an ancient Chant Chapel, out OF
the remains of which has been formed
an arched recess containing a curl
Gus altar monument. edected by Sir An
thony Palmer. K B.. In memory OF
Margaret. Lady Palmer, sister to Sir
Dudley Digges who died In September.
1919. In her thirty third year. I. Is
surrounded by shields OF arms. and in
scribel with high encomiums on her
virtues. and benevolenco to the poor.
upon whose sickness. lameness. and
blindness her charitable hands wrought
daily cures like miracles" Sir An
thony himself lies buried within the
altar rails: he died in 1890. aged six
ty-three
On the south side OF the chance1 Is
chapel. or monument-room. built by
Sir Dudley Dlgges In the reign of
James the First. and N the vault be-
meath which he himself lies buried,
with many of his family This apart
ment forms a square of fifteen feet.
with coved ceiling, highly enriched
In the centre Is an elaborate monu-
vent having an Ionic column in the
tire. supporting an urn, and at the
| es, the figures OF the Cardinal vir-
tics. as largo as life. The INSCRIPTIONS
which surround the middle table. re-
| cord the memory and virtues OF Sir
Dudley Disges. and Mary Kemp his
LADY, together with particulars of
their descent, Vol. vii. September,
1sV
| Ms other aepulchral memorials are
in thM 'hurch. Some remains OF paint
ed glass are contained in the win
! dows of the north aisle.
Tho epitaph is as follows: "Sir
/ Dudley Digges. knight. whose death
| the wlsest men doe reckon amongst
| ye Publique calamities OF these times.
| on the 18th day OF March. the yeare
from the Virgin Mother, 1898. hee re-
signed his spirit into ye hands OF his
maker, his body TO the peaceful shades
below, In humble confidence he shall