File:Allington Castle (52221550322).jpg

GV I The first castle on the site was a moated mound built by William de Warenne. In the C12 further building took place to the north of this, but this castle was 'overthrown' in 1174, and a small manor house built on the site. Portions of both these constructions were incorporated in the subsequent castle.

The present building was erected by Stephen de Penchester, or Penshurst, between 1279 and 1299 and continued by his son-in-law and successor Sir Henry de Cobham in the early C14. It was altered by Sir Henry Wyatt after 1492. It was forfeited to the Crown in 1554 at Sir Thomas Wyatt's rebellion. It subsequently became two farm houses and eventually fell into ruins, from which is was rescued by Lord Conway who, with his architect W.D Caröe, thoroughly restored the Castle between 1905 and 1929.

It is a square fortified country house consisting of buildings ranged round the inside of the courtyard with a curtain wall connecting them and semi-circular towers facing the moat which connects with the Medway. In the south west corner is Soloman's Tower of four storeys, which is larger than the other towers. In the northwest corner is the Gatehouse with restored machicolation and battlements, and iron-studded medieval double doors, approached by a barbican and stone bridge over the moat. The lower portions of the Gatehouse date from the C12 manor house. The wing which divides the courtyard in half was built by Sir Henry Wyatt and contained a long gallery, which was probably one of the first long galleries in England to be constructed. This was later destroyed but was restored by Lord Conway. Sir Henry Wyatt added the timber-frame buildings in the southeast corner of the Castle which were the kitchen and offices. These are of two storeys and attic, the ground and first floors being of stone with two timbered gables above, rendered and overhanging on bressumers with moulded argeboards and pendants and one gabled dormer. Casement windows with small square leaded panes.