Bodiam Castle

 

Archetypal 14th century moated castle 

with ruined interior 

- a glimpse of medieval splendour

Bodiam Castle was built to impress. It stands free from outbuildings and is magnified by its reflection in the moat. The castle dates to around 1385, the age of Chaucer, wars with France, the Black Death, royal disputes and social change. 

The castle was built for Sir Edward Dallingridge and his wife Elizabeth Wardedieu. It was a luxury home and an expression of their status.Over time the interior fell into ruin. Remarkably the walls, towers and setting survived. From the 18th-century it became known for its appeal as an ancient monument.

Nymans house and ruins

 Ludwig Messel was the first Messel to live at Nymans and, as a German émigré who had set up a successful stockbroking business, the purchase of a country estate was the ideal way for him to intergrate into English society.  Ludwig bought the 600 acre Nymans estate where he could cultivate his love of gardening, sharing it with family and friends. He and his wife Annie had six children with the eldest, Leonard, inheriting the estate in 1915.