Culpepper Places
Tonbridge Area of Kent in England

Ash. Scotsgrove Manor, which no longer stands, belonged to the Culpepers in the 15th century.

Bidborough. In the 15th century, the Culpepers owned Great Barnetts manor in Leigh, and it spilled over into the parishes of Bidborough, Penshurst, and Tonbridge. Photographs are provided of Bidborough Valley in which some of Great Barnetts land once lay.

Brenchley, the location of Mascalls Court and Badsell Manor, 14th century Culpeper home sites which belonged to direct ancestors of the modern-day Culpeppers and are the oldest known Culpeper sites with homes still standing. Photographs of both manors and of Brenchley church may be seen on this page.

Hadlow, the location of the manors of Fromans, Goldwell and Peckhams, held by the Culpepers during the 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. No modern day evidence of their structures or exact location can be found. Hadlow is also the location of impressive Oxen Hoath Manor (see below).

Hever. Hever Castle (pictures available) was the birthplace of Anne Boleyn, a cousin of Catherine Howard, both of whom were wives of Henry VIII. During the reign of Henry VIII, the Culpepers held the rectory and priory of Hever.

Leigh, the location of the manors of Ramhurst and Great Barnetts. Ramhurst (picture available) was owned by the Culpepers in the 13th and 14th centuries, and has a haunted house story associated with it.

Mereworth. Mereworth Castle (picture available) was rebuilt after its Culpeper connection, and this still privately-owned home is one of the most beautiful in England.

Offham. The manors of Offham, Pepingstraw and Snodbeane, owned by the Culpepers in the late 15th century. There are no modern-day homes with these names.

Oxen Hoath Manor. Still a magnificent home at the start of the 21st century, Oxen Hoath Manor was owned by the Culpeppers in the 15th century. (Excellent photos are available)

Pembury. Bayhall Manor was the oldest known Culpepper home, dating back to the 12th century. It was destroyed in 1960, but we have pictures of the surrounding countryside as well as a picture of the Culpeper Arms carved into a stone buttress at Pembury Church.

Penshurst. In the 15th century, the Culpepers owned Great Barnetts manor in Leigh, and it spilled over into the parishes of Bidborough, Penshurst, and Tonbridge. Penshurst Place, in Penshurts, is a magnificent old manor home, never owned by the Culpeppers, but surely visited by them.

Plaxtol. The now reportedly "haunted house" of Old Soar was a Culpeper manor from the 13th through the 17th centuries. It has been described as being a remarkable example of an unspoiled knightly dwelling of the reign of Edward I, and one of the most notable survivors of 13th century domestic architecture. Also in Plaxtol is the heavily-guarded Fairlawn Manor. (Pictures of both Old Soar and Fairlawn are posted.)

Sevenoaks. The ancient mansion in Riverhead at Sevenoaks called Brook Place (picture available) was built by the Culpepers in the 16th century. The Culpepers also owned Great Britain's Wood and Whitley Forest in Sevenoaks.

Stansted. During the 15th century, the Culpepers of Oxen Hoath held Stansted Manor. In March 2000, Stansted Manor could not be found and is probably no longer standing.

Tonbridge. In the 16th century, the Culpeppers owned "the rectory of Tonbridge, with its appurtances, and all messuages."

West Peckham. In St. Dunstans Church in West Peckham is a private pew (photographed) used in the 15th century by Sir John Culpeper^7a. The brass rubbing to be seen in the pew is of a brass effigy of Lady Elizabeth Culpeper on the top of the altar tomb at the northeast corner of the chancel.

Wrotham. Elizabeth Culpeper, daughter of Walter Culpeper^9w of Calais and Wigsell, was born circa 1493 in Ford Hall (Photo available).