insideKENT Magazine Issue 28 - July 2014 | Page 96

COVERSTORY

“THE LOVELIEST CASTLE IN THE WORLD”

Leeds Castle
VISITORS NEVER FORGET THEIR FIRST BREATHTAKING VISION OF LEEDS CASTLE IN KENT, RISING
MAJESTICALLY FROM THE MOAT AS IT HAS DONE FOR OVER 900 YEARS. HOWEVER, WITH 500
ACRES OF BEAUTIFUL PARKLAND AND FORMAL GARDENS, PLUS DAILY EVENTS AND PLENTIFUL
YEAR-ROUND ATTRACTIONS, IT'S NOT JUST THE GLORIOUS HISTORY OF LEEDS CASTLE THAT
ENTICES VISITORS TO RETURN TIME AND TIME AGAIN.

With records that date as far back as AD 800900, Leeds Castle was originally the site on which
the Manor of Leeds – Esledes – stood; an estate
that is thought to have been in the possession
of the Saxon Royal family.

In 1090, King William II granted the manor
to a cousin, Hamo de Crèvecoeur, who had
arrived in England with William the Conqueror.
In 1119 Hamo’s grandson, Robert, began building
the first stone fortification where the Castle stands
today, on two rocky outcrops (or islands) each
surrounded by the River Len. Building work

continued spasmodically throughout the 12th
and early 13th centuries, of which some remnants
can still be traced today, such as the medieval
two-light window at the end of the banqueting
hall.
During the years that followed, the
magnificent Kent-based Castle changed hands
on numerous occasions, taking it from a Norman
stronghold to the private property of six of
England's medieval queens. In fact, the 'palace'
was frequented by Henry VIII and his first queen,
Catherine of Aragon, and it was from here that
the infamous King left to attend his famous
meeting with Francis I of France at the Field of
the Cloth of Gold in 1520.
Fast forward and Leeds Castle has since
filled the role of a Jacobean country house, a
Georgian mansion and more recently, an elegant
early 20th-century retreat. The longest serving
resident to date was the honourable Mrs Wilson
Filmer – later Olive, Lady Baillie – who bought
the house in 1924 and completely restored the
fabric and structure of the Castle. The former
owner had a huge hand in ensuring Leeds Castle
was highly regarded as one of the great houses
of England and a centre of lavish hospitality for

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leading politicians, ambassadors, international
royalty and film stars.
Following Lady Baillie's death in 1974, the
Castle and 500-acre park were bequeathed to
the nation under the trusteeship of the charitable
Leeds Castle Foundation. In the shadow of the
North Downs, set on two islands in the River
Len, and encircled by a wide moat, the Castle
was once famously described by Lord Conway
as "the loveliest castle in the world" – an
indisputable title that is fitting right up until this
very day.
There are many attractions to see at Leeds
Castle, from the beautiful English cottage-style
Culpeper Garden to the Lady Baillie Mediterranean
Garden, maze and grotto, shops, restaurants,
children’s playgrounds, punting and much, much
more.
Leeds Castle also offers five holiday cottages,
17 luxury bed and breakfast bedrooms and five
bedrooms in the Maiden’s Tower, as well as
eight Medieval Glamping tents. In addition, 20
luxury bedrooms, ranging from battlement
bedrooms to staterooms, can be booked as part
of a private event within the 900-year old Castle.