Egyptian Discovery at Chiddingstone Castle

Summary

We meet at Chiddingstone Castle where we step back in time to Ancient Egypt. We are hosted by the curator for a short introductory talk on the extensive Egyptian Collection housed at the castle before heading to the Victorian Kitchen for a light lunch. In the afternoon we join the curator and explore the many artefacts of the Egyptian Collection, they will share their in-depth knowledge, point out highlights and answer any questions there may be.   

The collections at Chiddingstone Castle are the passion of one man, Denys Eyre Bower who lived here from 1955 to 1977. He was an avid antiquarian amassing over 8,000 items which can be seen on today throughout the castle. The art and artefacts he gathered are grouped into five extraordinary collections, Ancient Egyptian, Japanese, Buddhist, Stuart and Jacobite books.

The Ancient Egyptian Collection at Chiddingstone Castle is a hidden treasure and well-kept secret amongst the most avid Egyptologist. It is home to some extremely rare and unique objects including a red porphyry head of a queen from the Ptolemaic Period, an impressive collection of shabti figures and a 5,000-year-old funerary boat but to name a few. In 2013, 340 individual items from Chiddingstone Castle were loaned to the Houston Museum of Natural Science for the opening of their Hall of Ancient Egypt. This has given Chiddingstone Castle the opportunity to create delightful new displays featuring objects that had been hidden in storage for many years.

On conclusion of the tour with free time to explore the rest of the collections and grounds, you may choose to venture outside to the far end of the North Lawn where you can find an Ancient Egyptian Garden – ‘The Fields of Eternity’, which has been specifically designed to inspire visitors and aid the link between the collection at the castle and the landscapes of Ancient Egypt. The garden gives visitors the chance to learn about life and the environment in 2000BC by the meticulously prepared paths of grasses, wildflowers and crops that have been laid out.

Tour highlights:

Previous

Next

• Introductory talk from the curator about the Egyptian Collection at Chiddingstone Castle
• Tour with the curator through the Egyptian Collection
• Two-course light lunch with tea and coffee