Leeds Castle Pt. 1

Another castle with 900 years of history 

Leeds Castle in Kent has been a Norman stronghold; 

the private property of six of England's medieval queens; a palace used by Henry VII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon;

a Jacobean country house; a Georgian mansion;

an elegant early 20th century retreat for the influential and famous;

and in the 21st century, it has become one of the most visited historic buildings in Britain. 

The first stone castle was built by a Norman baron during the reign

of William the Conqueror's son Henry I on an island  in the River Len. In 1278, a century and a half later, it came into the possession of Queen Eleanor of Castile, first wife of Edward I.

For the next 300 years the castle remained a royal residence before becoming a private home

Crossed over the moat and round to a back entrance

where we enter the extensive cellars

and into the Norman cellar

wine cellar

leaving the cellars and on to the top of the stairs where there are

23 bedrooms

and into the bedroom of Queen Catherine de Valois

widow of Henry 5th 1420's 

where there is a day bed to match the main bed

the bathroom next door

and looking out into one of the courtyards

before entering a private chapel

and another internal courtyard

Lady Baillie's room

and her shoes

her dressing room

and bathroom lined with Russian Onyx

the most lavish in the castle

The bedroom of Catherine of Aragon

Took lots of photos of the castle and grounds so need to show it over a few postings so more to come