Old Walmer Court

Last year we had the rare opportunity of having a look round the privately owned remains of Walmer Court, a Medieval Manor House, which was open as part of the Heritage Open Weekend.

Our first look at the ruins.

Looking through what could have have been a window.

The ruins of the house can be seen in part from the grounds of the neighbouring Church of St. Mary the Blessed Virgin, but it was a real treat to be able to have a proper look around the ruins.

This room would have been one of the Undercrofts.

The Old St. Mary's church can be seen behind the far wall.

The Court and the Church are believed to date from 1120, both buildings are thought to have been built by the d'Auberville family, with the church being the Chapel for the family, and both buildings were entirely surrounded by a dry moat, of which all that can be seen now is an indentation  in the grass as you approach the Court.

You might have noticed the mill wheel in the wall to the right of this photo, and in the photo below. It is believed that at one stage there was an opening knocked through which gave easy access to the Church next door, possibly for use during a visit to Walmer by the Duke of Wellington. When the opening was filled in, the builders obviously thought putting a mill wheel in the wall was a good idea :)

Looking through to the Undercroft, presumably the square holes in the wall were where the beams for the first floor were once situated.

It is believed that the Court was a square building with turrets at each corner, a two storey hall house with two undercrofts, and further rooms above the first floor hall. Entry to the building was by an exterior staircase on the West side of the building. Both the Court and the Church are built of flint, originally dressed with Caen stone. 

One of the corners of the building, probably where one of the turrets was situated.

The doorway in the photos above and below lead into the second Undercroft.

We really enjoyed our visit to this site, and congratulate the present owners for the work they have done to preserve the site :)