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
