Inner Ward To Cooling Castle

The inner ward to Cooling Castle dates from 1381 to 1385 and has been in ruins since 1554. Henry Yevele was the Surveyor, with Thomas Wrek and William Sharnhale as masons. The structure is built of ragstone and features a rectangular enclosure that is moated, with round angle-turrets that were originally machicolated. There is a turretted gateway located near the center of the east wall. Inside, there is a three-bay vaulted undercroft with quadripartite vaults and stop-chamfered ribs on short wall-shafts. The walls in this area are faced externally with knapped flint and some stone chequer work. Cooling Castle became the seat of the de Cobham family after 1214, but the license to crenellate was granted only in 1381, partly to defend the sea-access to London. This historical context is commemorated on a copper plate in the east tower, which was formerly on the gate-house, and reads: 'Knouwyth that beth and schul be/ That I am mad in help of the cuntre/ In knowyng of whyche thyng/ Thys is chartre and wytnessyng.' The castle was abandoned after Wyatt's rebellion in 1554, when the family moved to Cobham. Cooling Castle is scheduled as an Ancient Monument.