People: Colebrooke

James Colebrooke bought the Chilham Castle Estate in 1724. He mad many alterations to the Castle, particularly the keep which then was used as a brewery. They also moved the boundaries of the estate and enclosing it with the brick wall, which can still be seen today down School Hill and Mountain Street. The Colebrooke family also imported the first elephants to Chilham to work on the estate. A large mausoleum adjoining the church on the north east corner dedicated to the Colebrooke family was demolished around 1860’s as unhealthy and the Chancel of the Church was completely rebuilt. A vault at the north east corner of the Church replaced the Mausoleum and all the coffins of the Colebrooke family were placed there.