Chiddingstone Castle is a stunning country house near Edenbridge, Kent with a fascinating collection of exotic antiques and antiquities. A new display is planned for the Japanese room at the Castle in time for the 2010 opening season.

The display will be based on the Japanese tea ceremony, and will highlight objects from the Japanese collection related to the ceremony, including some very interesting and unusual natsume (tea caddies).

This display will link into the plans for a Japanese tea house and tea garden in the grounds of this wonderful Castle as well as compliment the unique collections already displayed inside the Castle.

The beautiful Buddhist exhibition will also be moving to a new location within the Castle for the 2010 season. This move will enable curator of the Japanese Collection, Sarah Mahood, to reinterpret the display by using the varied and eclectic collection to show the spread of Buddhism throughout Asia.

Set in 35 acres of beautiful grounds, which contain a lake, a rose garden and woodland, this attractive country house dates from 1550s when High Street House, as the Castle was known, was home to the Streatfeild family.

Revived from dereliction in 1955 by the gifted antiquary Denys Bower, the Castle became a home for his amazing and varied collections. Denys amassed a stunning collection of Japanese armour, swords and lacquer as well as Egyptian antiquities, Buddhist artefacts, Jacobean manuscripts and paintings. He was completely entranced by the romance of the Jacobite rebellion and even thought he was the reincarnation of Bonny Prince Charlie! Today, visitors can still enjoy Denys�s eclectic collections, see his study and other themed rooms, as well as exhibitions devoted to both castle and local history.

The Castle has a full programme of themed family activity days throughout the year. These include Victorian or Egyptian themed interactive performances, arts and crafts, nature trails, Taiko Drumming workshops.

Chiddingstone Castle, Nr Edenbridge, Kent TN8 7AD. Tel: 01892 870347 www.chiddingstonecastle.org.uk

Entry prices: Adults �7, children (5-13) �4. Please note that on Activity Days, a charge of �2 will apply for 2-4 year olds to cover the cost of materials and entertainment. All activity days are free to Family Season Pass holders. A family season pass costs �48.50 per family.

There is a �2.50 parking fee for all visitors arriving by car, this includes access to the Grounds, Gift shop and Tea Room. Open: Sundays, Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Bank Holidays from Good Friday (2nd April) until Sunday 26th September 2010. Times: 11am to 5pm. Last entry to house 4:15pm. Tearoom and gift shop.

For further information please contact Caroline Edmunds at Pennington PR on 01892 616647.