Tonbridge Castle from the Old Road Bridge.

A small amount of background:

Following the Norman Conquest, Richard Fitz Gilbert was granted land in Kent to guard the crossing of the River Medway. He erected a simple Motte-and-bailey castle on the site.

In 1088, the de Clare family (descendents of Fitz Gilbert) rebelled against King William II. His army besieged the castle. After holding for two days the castle fell and as punishment the king had both the castle and the town of Tonbridge burnt to the ground.

Before 1100, the de Clares replaced the wooden castle with a stone shell keep and in 1295 a stone perimeter wall was built, the remains of which can be seen in the foreground of the picture.