200-year-old sword found sticking out of castle lake after water levels drop

A 200-year-old sword has been discovered in the lake of Chiddingstone Castle, a find that could be from the early 1800s. The castle curator, Naomi Collick, revealed the sword was found after water levels dropped due to hot weather. The weapon, with a curved, chipped, rusted blade and a possibly brass hilt featuring a lion, is too delicate to handle.

It could have been dropped by various individuals, such as World War Two troops or the Streatfeild family, who originally lived at the castle. The castle's last owner, Denys Eyre Bower, was known to collect swords, but the lake was built in the 1800s. The hot weather has also had an impact on other castle lakes in Kent, Sussex, and Surrey, with drought officials declaring 71.3% of England now in drought conditions.