Another from my commuting detour to Chiddingstone, Kent. This village is one of the last surviving single street Tudor villages in England, and is now owned by the National Trust. They have this to say: "The Castle Inn is one of just 60 pubs owned by the National Trust and is independently run by the owners of renowned Botley Hill Farmhouse (since April 2019). The first mention of the inn dates as far back as 1420, making this building a true example of a traditional English inn."
The street on which the Inn sits used to carry straight on past the old Manor House. However, in the early 1800s the Manor House owner Henry Streatfeild changed the face of the village forever. The old Manor House was partly demolished and Chiddingstone Castle was built over it. He then blocked the High Street at the Castle Inn and diverted the road around the castle lake and garden to prevent any villagers from gaining access to his land. Friendly, eh?
The Castle was eventually purchased by Denys Eyre Bower in 1955; a renowned art collector, he filled the Castle with many fine works and it remained his home until his death in 1977. It is now run by a Trust in his name to preserve the castle and collection for future posterity.
Ian