xxx.v KINGSGATE CASTLE 139 



to Margate for the sake of the tonic air, went 

 there to look at houses, and eventually rented 

 a house at Kingsgate, belonging to Mr. Luke 

 Fildes, the artist. It was a tenancy destined to 

 exercise a very considerable influence on their 

 future life, for it led to Lord Avebury's purchase 

 and rebuilding of Kingsgate Castle, which be- 

 came a very great interest to him, and the 

 favourite residence of himself and Lady Avebury 

 in his later years. His own history of the 

 purchase and building is brief enough : 



In July 1901 we took Holland House, at Kingsgate, 

 entering on 22nd. Thought of buying the Castle. In 

 October met Walker there to discuss it and bought it 

 on the 19th. 



1902. Began rebuilding. The stone is " Doulting " 

 — a Jurassic sandstone. 



1903. Slept in the Castle for the first time on July 3rd. 

 Went in on August 13th, but very unfinished. 



1905. Made the new road across Brook's Corner in 

 September. In November paved the courtyard. 



We built the cloister to sit in and the rooms above, 

 I think in 1909. 



1912. Built the new servants' quarters and garage. 

 Bought the foreshore. 



The Castle is built in the form of a quadrangle, 

 with the courtyard, paved in 1905, in the centre. 

 What gives the place its unique character is 

 its situation on the very edge of the chalk cliffs 

 going straight down to the beach. The sea breaks 

 upon the cliff at high tide, and it was partly 

 in order to give better protection to the cliff by 

 masonry defences that Lord Avebury bought 

 the foreshore in the last year but one of his 

 life. From the interior of the house a stairway 

 goes down into the earth, leading to a door, on 



