Recce: Babies Castle, Hawkhurst

[mr_bones]

Yesterday afternoon i was out on a test-drive with a friend. We took the car through the village of Hawkhurst and suddenly stumbled across a very dilapidated building with a mouldy sign outside that said 'Hawkhurst Castle'. We were busy with the test drive and so i returned today and recce'd the site. I gather it has been explored before under the name 'babies castle' which was engraved in stone at the front entrance.

After diving through the perimeter hedge i emerged in the main courtyard. The building formed a rough 'L' shape and joined onto a few scattered outbuildings. Presented with the marvellous pool, i resisted having a quick paddle and made my way round the site. It was apparent that after the buildings 1860's beginning as a Barnardo's childrens home, it was later ocnverted into a nursing home - ironically it could have housed the same people in retirement that had been there as a child!

I walked round the outside and decided to return when i am not on my own.

 

[ollie]

thats a great find. its nice to find places like this at random isn't it.

 

[mr_bones]

Thanks Ollie, sure is - although i found out later i had seen pictures of it before. Just didn't know where it was!

 

[Foxylady]

Really nice find...quite a large site too, by the looks of it. Now, how on earth did you resist going for a swim? Good stuff Mr B.

 

[mr_bones]

Really nice find...quite a large site too, by the looks of it. Now, how on earth did you resist going for a swim? Good stuff Mr B.

I didn't have a costume? Wouldn't want to indecently expose myself!

 

[Foxylady]

 

[Goldie87]

Nice. Looks like an interesting place that

 

[Kezza]

yep i want to go there!!!!!!

 

[mr_bones]

yep i want to go there!!!!!!

you based anywhere near it Kezza?

 

[King Al]

Cool love a castle, i was worried for a min there after there was no turrets on the first pics but it was all ok at the end

 

[whostolemymonkey]

Interesting find, and an interesting question aswell, the 4th from last picture shows an alarm system bell box on the corner that does seem quite new (this type of box has only been around 6/7 years). What's the point of putting a dummy box on a building that has obviously got no alarm system on it.

 

[mr_bones]

I believe the place was only closed around 2002/2003 so they may have installed it just before the place closed down

 

[King Al]

I doubt it'll even work, does the place have power? also how close are the nearest houses/ civalisation?

 

[mr_bones]

KA - no power on, but the nearest house is about 10 feet away

 

[King Al]

Well one thing for it, you first, let us know what happens

 

[dungbug]

Whereabouts is Hawkhurst?................Nice photo's by the way!

 

[mr_bones]

Dungbug - Hawkhurst is between tunbridge wells and hastings

 

[thecornflake]

Hi,

I think this is my first post, if so hello.

I'm based in Tunbridge Wells, I'd be interested in visiting this place sometime. I haven't visited any before, but I do quite a lot of photography and love the photos of these old places. I'd really like to be able to get some of my own.

I found a list which you lot probably already know about that lists all the Barnados homes and what happened to them. There seem to be quite a few in the South East although I assume most are private houses now -

http://www.barnardos.org.uk/who_we_are/history/barnardos_homes/barnardos_homes_se.htm

 

[sheep2405]

Very nice, I seen this when deliving in my lorry back last year and always wanted to go back, I will have to take a trip there again.

S

 

[Foxylady]

I found a list which you lot probably already know about that lists all the Barnados homes and what happened to them. There seem to be quite a few in the South East although I assume most are private houses now -

http://www.barnardos.org.uk/who_we_are/history/barnardos_homes/barnardos_homes_se.htm

Hiya thecornflake
Don't think I've seen that list before...could prove to be useful to some people, so cheers for that.
Welcome to the forum, btw.