Really a fortified manor house, Scotney Castle was built in c. 1378-80 by Roger Ashburnham. It was strategically sited where the road from Rye and Hastings crossed the valley of the Bewel.

Does anyone live at Scotney Castle?

Edward Hussey III spent many happy years here with his wife and children, but only two more generations of the family have lived here since then. It is maybe for that reason that the new house has been little altered.

How did Scotney Castle get its name?

The manor of Scotney was in existence no later than the early twelfth century and took its name from the family who owned it. Records confirm that they had a high status house on the site and this passed into the hands of the Ashburnham family in 1358.