Welcome to Saltwood Castle

The castle is in Saltwood village – which derives its name from the castle – 1 mile (2km) North of Hythe, Kent. Known as the site where the plot was hatched to assassinate Thomas Becket (1118–1170). More recently, it became the home of the art historian Lord Clark of Saltwood (1903-1983), then his son Alan Clark (1928-1999), a minister in Margaret Thatcher’s government.

In brief
The castle was probably erected on a Roman site, though Bronze Age implements and copper ingots discovered in Hayne’s Wood, 1874, show the site had already long been inhabited.

Saltwood Castle was the much loved home of the military historian and diarist, the late Rt. Hon. Alan Clark MP. The grounds of Saltwood Castle are not normally open to the public but a few times a year there is a rare chance to see this romantic, medieval castle.
There is a moat, battlements, a secret garden, peacocks, and on occasions you can view the Rt. Hon Alan Clark’s classic car collection.

Mrs. Jane Clark
Jane is the daughter of Colonel Leslie Brindley Bream Beuttler OBE, (The Duke of Wellington’s Regiment) and Pamela Rosemary Blake. She married military historian and diarist, The Rt. Hon. Alan Kenneth Mackenzie Clark in 1958.
Saltwood Castle and Gardens are maintained by Jane and her dedicated team of locally sourced staff.
The Castle has regular Charity fund raising events, on open days, and educational and private group tours.

And action!
Saltwood Castle has been a popular location for many TV and films
Play School (1976 – TV BBC documentary, episode Saltwood Castle, Kent)
The Tripods (TV series)
The Chateau Ricordeau (TV series 1, episodes 5-8)
The Castle of Adventure (1990 – TV)
Dear Bill: A Tribute to Lord Deedes (1994 – TV BBC documentary, refrencing Saltwood, his childhood home)
The Real Alan Clark (2000 – TV documentary)
The Alan Clark Diaries (2004 – TV series)
My Week with Marilyn (2011 British drama film directed by Simon Curtis and written by Adrian Hodges)