Leeds Castle, Kent

Leeds Castle, 5 miles (8 km) southeast of Maidstone, Kent, England, dates back to 1119. In 1278 the castle came in the hands of King Edward I, for whom it became a favourite residence. The castle seen today dates mostly from the 19th century and is built on islands in a lake formed by the River Len to the east of the village of Leeds.

[edit]Medieval and Tudor history

Leeds Castle at sunset

Built in 1119 by Robert de Crevecoeur as a Norman stronghold, Leeds Castle descended through the de Crevecoeur family until the 1260s.^[1] What form this first castle took is uncertain because it was rebuilt and transformed in the following centuries. However, Adrian Pettifer speculates that it may have been a motte and bailey.^[2]

In 1278, the castle became the property of King Edward I. As a favoured residence of Edward’s, Leeds Castle saw considerable investment. The king enhanced its defences, and it was probably Edward who created the lake which surrounds the castle. Abarbican spanning three islands was also built. Leeds Castle was also fitted with accommodation fit for royalty: a “gloriette” with apartments for the king and queen were added.^[3] In the Late Middle Ages, the growth of the royal household meant fewer residences could accommodate the monarchy when they visited. As a result, the expenditure on royal residences in south east England generally decreased except for the Tower of London and Windsor Castle. The activity at Leeds Castle during the reign of Edward I is a notable exception to this pattern.^[4]

The castle was captured on 31 October 1321 by the forces of Edward II from Margaret de Clare, Baroness Badlesmere, wife of the castle’s constable, Bartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st Baron Badlesmere who had left her in charge during his absence. The King had besieged Leeds after she had refused Edward’s consort Isabella of France admittance in her husband’s absence; when the latter had sought to force an entry, Lady Badlesmere had instructed her archers to fire upon the Queen and her party, six of whom were killed.^[5] Lady Badlesmere was taken and kept prisoner in the Tower of London until November 1322.^[6] After Edward II died in 1327 his widow took over Leeds Castle as her primary residence.^[7]

Richard II‘s first wife, Anne of Bohemia, spent the winter of 1381 at the castle on her way to be married to the king. In 1395, Richard received the French chronicler Jean Froissart there, as described in Froissart’s Chronicles.

Henry VIII transformed the castle in 1519 for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon. A painting commemorating his meeting with Francis I of France still hangs there.

In 1552 Leeds Castle was granted to Anthony St. Leger.^[1]

[edit]17th and 18th centuries

Doublet worn by Fairfax at the Battle of Maidstone in 1648

Civil War Cuirassier armour at Leeds circa 1640

The castle escaped destruction during the English Civil War because its owner, Sir Cheney Culpeper, sided with the Parliamentarians. The castle was used as both an arsenal and a prison during the war. Other members of the Culpeper family had actually sided with the Royalists, John 1st Lord Culpeper having been granted more than 5,000,000 acres (20,000 km²) of land in Virginia in reward for assisting the escape of the Prince of Wales.^[8] In later years this legacy was to prove vital for the castle’s fortunes.

Thomas Fairfax, 6th Lord Fairfax of Cameron was born at Leeds Castle in 1693 and later settled permanently in North America to oversee the Culpeper estates, cementing an ongoing connection between Leeds Castle and America. There is a commemorative sundial at Leeds Castle telling the time in Belvoir, Virginia and a corresponding sundial in America.^[8] Fairfax was the great grandson of Thomas Fairfax who led the parliamentarian attack at the nearby Battle of Maidstone in 1648 and whose doublet worn during the battle is on display.

[edit]19th century

The new castle was completed in 1823 in the Tudor style.

The castle was owned by Robert Fairfax for 46 years until 1793 when it eventually passed on to the Wykeham Martins. Sale of the family estates in Virginia released a large sum of money that allowed extensive repair and remodelling of the castle in a more appropriate Tudor style, completed in 1823, that resulted in the appearance seen today.^[8]

[edit]20th century

The last private owner of the castle was the Hon. Olive, Lady Baillie, a daughter of Almeric Paget, 1st Baron Queenborough, and his first wife, Pauline Payne Whitney, an American heiress. Lady Baillie bought the castle in 1926. She redecorated the interior, first working with the French architect and designer Armand-Albert Rateau (who also oversaw exterior alterations as well as adding interior features such as a 16th century-style carved-oak staircase) and then, later, with the Paris decorator Stéphane Boudin. During the early part of World War II Leeds was used as a hospital where Lady Baillie and her daughters hosted burned Commonwealth airmen as part of their recovery. Survivors remember the experience with fondness to this day. Upon her death in 1974, Lady Baillie left the castle to the Leeds Castle Foundation, a private charitable trust whose aim is to preserve the castle and grounds for the benefit of the public.^[9] The castle was opened to the public in 1976.

On 17 July 1978, the castle was the site of a meeting between the Egyptian Foreign Minister Mohammed Ibrahim Karmel and Israeli Foreign Minister Moshe Dayan and Cyrus Vance of the USA in preparation for the Camp David Accords.^[8] The castle also hosted the Northern Ireland peace talks held in September 2004 led by Tony Blair.

A wide panoramic view of Leeds Castle from across the moat on the north west side

Leeds Castle and its moat, as viewed from the rear

[edit]Tourism

The maze at Leeds Castle was made with 2,400 yew trees and was opened in 1988.^[10][11]

An aviary was added in 1980 and by 2011 it contained over 100 species. However, it was decided to close the aviary the following year as it was felt the charity managing the castle could better use the £200,000 a year it cost to keep the aviary running.^[12] This castle and its grounds are now a major leisure destination in the county of Kent and feature a maze, a grotto, a golf course and what may be the world’s only museum of dog collars.

It is a Grade I listed building (first listed in 1952)^[13] and recognised as an internationally important structure.^[14] In 1998 Leeds Castle was one of 57 heritage sites in England to receive more than 200,000 visitors.^[15] According to figures released by the Association of Leading Visitor Attractions, nearly 560,000 people visited Leeds Castle in 2010.^[16]

[edit]Castle interior

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  The Dining Room

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  The Banqueting Hall

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  The Library