Figaro’s at Saltwood Castle – Sunday 12th August 2019
Words & Pictures – Kevin Fagan
Last November an email appeared in my inbox from Anita Waters. The ‘events submission form’ included the title Figaro’s at Saltwood Castle. The day looked very interesting so within a day or so appeared on our website events section. Up until a few days before we had 27 cars registered to attend but the forecast for very strong winds on the day meant we obviously lost a few due to concerns of driving in such winds on the motorway on-route to the castle.
Sue and I had decided to make a weekend of it and arrived the day before so drove ‘belle’ down to the sea-front for a nice walk on the Friday. This meant we only had a short 20 min drive to the castle in the morning. On the day the forecast was spot on with 55mph winds hitting the shores of Kent. Trying to avoid any falling trees we arrived at 10.00 at the castles entrance, a couple of photographers were already positioned to take pictures of us all driving under the castle entrance. As we parked Anita made sure we were all pointing in the same direction to get some great pictures. Within half an hour the car park was full with 17 figs parked up.
Jane Clark (the current owner) was introduced to me and Sue and so welcoming and friendly to us all. 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. Jane took us to the library which is located around 100m away from the house. The building was packed with historic books and royal memorabilia including a number of personal Christmas cards from the Queen Mother no less! We heard the story of an unwelcome occupation of protected bats and death-watch beetles. The building was incredible and it’s as if time had stood still with many artefacts on display that must have been hundreds of years old. Within the gardens were prison ruins which is where traitors were left to die. In 1389 it was said that Lollard, Lord William Thorpe, escaped the Castle during an earthquake.
About 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) a minister in Margaret Thatcher’s government. It is thought 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. The grounds of Saltwood Castle are not normally open to the public so we were very lucky to have been invited to learn about this romantic, medieval castle. During wold war 2 it was It is rumoured that Hitler requested that the Castle avoid being bombed as Goring wanted it as a home!
We were then taken to Jane’s late husband Alan Clarks collection of classic cars. According to one of the staff who worked there, Alan insisted that the cars were never cleaned but must be fully serviced and ready to go at any time. On Display was a Citroen DS, Two Rolls-Royce’s, Buick & Jaguar drop-head coupe.
After the tour we enjoyed endless supplies of tea/coffee tea and cakes under cover in a gazebo which at times felt like it was going to take off! It was a shame about the wind especially as I couldn’t fly my drone and capture the cars with such a stunning backdrop. Many thanks again to everyone that attended on the day, Anita and Tim and of course the wonderful Jane Clack for sharing her amazing home with us all.
Jane said we are most welcome to return so hopefully we will organise this for August 2021
Browse pictures below
