Click on the photo above to enlarge. Photo kindly provided by David Antiss (Flickr).

Starkey's Castle is one of the most complete medieval hall-houses built of stone.

Wouldham had three Manors. The Bishop of Rochester was the overall Lord of the Manor, both before and after the Reformation in the reign of Henry VIII. During the occupation of Richard Byset in 1390, we first hear of the The Manor of Littelhall which covered the land between the Manors of Rings and Wouldham. Sir Humphrey Starkey purchased the estate around 1490 and is thought to have built Starkey's Castle. However, it has been suggested that instead, this was Richard Byset's building with alterations being made in the fifteenth century.

It is not a castle, but a double-solar house. Sir Humphrey Starkey was Recorder of London in 1473, was knighted by King Richard III in 1483 and became Chief Baron of the Exchequer for Henry VII, having successfully weathered the War of the Roses and the advent of a new king.

In more recent times, Starkey's Castle was divided into three cottages as accommodation for farmworkers.

Click on the photo above to enlarge. Photo kindly provided by Wouldham Parish Council.

There are rumours of a tunnel linking the building with Wouldham Church. However, having spoke to another resident, I've been told that there was no tunnel to Wouldham Church, but instead there was three tunnels leading from the basement of the building to Cuxton Church, Rochester Castle and Ivy Cottage (Pilgrim's Way).

The building is Grade I listed.

Approximate location marked by the red circle. © OpenStreetMap Contributors.

More Photos

Click on the photo above to enlarge. Photo kindly provided by Robin Webster (Flickr).

Click on the photo above to enlarge. Photo kindly provided by Wouldham Parish Council.

Old Newspaper Reports

Kentish Gazette. Tuesday February 17th, 1846

WOULDHAM, NEAR ROCHESTER. TO BE SOLD BY PRIVATE CONTRACT. STARK CASTLE FARM, situate at WOULDHAM, near ROCHESTER, in the county of Kent; consisting of a Capital FARM HOUSE and all requisite BUILDINGS, and about 293 Acres of LAND adjoining, Tithe Free, except about four acres, now in the occupation of Mr. John Pearce, a most excellent Tenant, for the remainder of the term, which expires OLD MICHAELMAS, 1851.- Mr. Pearce will send a person to show the property, and further particulars may be had by applying to A. B., Mr. James Boyle's, Law Sationer, 45, Carey Street, Lincoln's Inn.

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