Babies Castle
Hawkhurst Castle Kent.
Tstranger and myself headed off to Babies Castle.
It was built by Barnado's in August 1886 as the largest home for orphaned babies and young children.











It was formally opened by Her Royal Highness, The Princess Mary Adelaide,
who was accompanied by her daughter princess Victoria, later to become Queen Mary, wife of King George V, and patron to Dr. Barnardo’s.
Queen Mary herself was to become an active patron of the charity one of many illustrious Royal ladies to do so.
It closed in 1965.
It was subsequently reopened as a nursing home and the name changed to Hawkhurst Castle.
It closed under the abbey group in the 1990's.




It has laid derelict since and has exchanged hands a number of times with a number of a different planning applications being submitted.
The 2 acre site has permission for demolition and rebuilding of a new nursing home & houses,
At present , sadly the structure is in a very poor and hazardess condition.
Its upper floors stripped by metal theives












Makes you wonder.

Thanx for looking in

SK / Neil