Little England has a surprising number of castles. Many of them are poorly preserved, and some are completely destroyed. One of the well-preserved medieval buildings is Leeds Castle. Read about its history and how to get to it in the article.

Early history of Leeds Castle

Its location is the lake islands near the Len River. It's only four miles from Maidstone, Today it's perhaps the most beautiful medieval castle in a world rich in its history and events taking place around it.

The castle is named after its first owner, who was Senor Lid. First (857) a small wooden fortress was built. In its place much later (1119) a stone castle was erected. Since 1278, the castle has been in the possession of Edward the First, who remodels it and gives it to his wife, Eleanor of Castile. Until the beginning of the fourteenth century (1318), the castle was owned by the widowed queens of England. It was the residence of Marguerite of France, stepmother of Edward II.

Residence of queens

Lord Badlesmere was the owner of the castle in 1321. When he was not at home, Queen Isabella came to visit and was denied hospitality. Her guards were killed and she returned home. King Edward II, Isabella's husband, responded to the insult. He arrested Badlesmere's relatives and sent them to the fortress, and captured Leeds.

Queen Isabella received the castle as a gift from her husband. Since then, no one has captured him. For many centuries the castle was the residence English queens. Leeds belonged to the crown long time, from 1278 to 1552. In the Middle Ages, it was a favorite vacation spot for English kings and queens, who often visited it.

The history of the castle today

Lady Bailey Leeds Castle, whose photo is presented for viewing, was inherited from a wealthy uncle in 1926. The lady spent almost the entire fortune on its reconstruction and interior design. She hired the best craftsmen for work. With their help, the interior of the castle was transformed.

A great contribution to its restoration was made by the French architect Armand Rato, and later by Stefan Budin. Thanks to the heiress, paintings, tapestries, furniture, Chinese porcelain, and ceramics were collected. Many premises for various purposes have been reconstructed.

Seminar room

Leeds Castle has many rooms. One of them is former room Lady Bailey. She used it as a boudoir. In 1960, the room was given to her own son for a bedroom. When the lady died (it was 1974), the room was converted into a hall in which seminars were held.

The first meetings in this hall were held in 1978, where foreign ministers from countries such as the United States of America, Egypt and Israel concluded a series of agreements called Camp David. The Seminar Hall was in demand by Sinn Féin when, in the fourth year of the third millennium, peace talks which dealt with matters relating to Northern Ireland.

Library

Its design is the work of the great master Boudin. The model for interior decoration is the library of the Bothon house, which was restored in the 17th century. The main decoration is a portrait depicting a lady and her daughters.

At the time, Bailey was forty-seven, Pauline was twenty-seven, and Susan was twenty-four. Eldest daughter died in 1984, the youngest - in 2001. The library has about three thousand volumes of books.

Lady Bailey's bedroom

A decorator from France was invited to develop the design of the room. It was 1936. The famous master Stefan Budin in the future carried out orders for the White House, in particular for the wife of President Kennedy.

Bedroom of Catherine of Aragon

In Leeds Castle, the interior of this room was also designed by Stefan Boudin in 1960. The first wife of King Henry the Eighth stayed in it in 1520, and the bedroom was named after her. Above the bed is a portrait of Lady Bailey's mother, and above the fireplace is Lola Montez, who was known as the premier adventuress of the 19th century.

Main staircase in the castle

It is called so because behind the doors (there are four of them) are almost all the bedrooms, of which there are twenty-three in the castle. At the top, under the stairs, there are portraits depicting Bailey's mother and father. The father's name was Almeric Paget, he was a titled Lord of Queenborough. And his grandfather is the Marquess of Anglesey.

Mother - Pauline Winty - was from New York. Her uncle was a very wealthy man and left all his wealth to his niece Lady Bailey. When she took over the property, the castle was in a terrible state.

As you know, she spent almost all the funds left by her uncle to restore the castle, which she used as a country residence, until 1974, in which she died. Before her death, she managed to create a charitable foundation named after Leeds Castle. After her death, the foundation inherited ownership of it.

Banquet hall of King Henry VIII

Leeds Castle in England has a room named after famous king. Henry was the owner of the castle. It was during this period that a bay window was installed, distinguished by luxury and beauty. The beams in the room are a true work of woodcarving art. Particularly noteworthy is the floor, the material for which is ebony. To decorate the interior of the hall in the 16th century, tapestry was brought from Flanders, and facing material for the fireplace from France.

Royal chambers

Its impressive size and fine silk drapery made an impression on the guests received by the queen. Bedspreads and drapes were marked with the initials "H" and "C", denoting the names of the king and queen. Above the fireplace hung a diamond-shaped coat of arms, signifying that the Queen was a widow.

Gallery

This room was restored in 1927 by French architect Armand Rato. Leeds Castle is proud of its gallery. Impressive are the carved oak beams of the wonderful work of Parisian masters. The busts of King Henry VIII and his children are made of marble. The mantelpiece and the carved coats of arms of the king and queen delight visitors. The table, and that one has its own legend. At first it belonged to an Italian monastery, later, in the 17th century, it took its rightful place in the gallery.

Chapel

AT this case this is the room in which a daily service was held for the repose of the soul of Edward's first wife. Her name was Eleanor of Castile. The chapel in which the funeral service was held was called the "church chapel". During the reign of Henry VIII, it was closed. This time falls on 1544. Its restoration and re-illumination took place already in the twentieth century, in the seventies.

The panels depicting the Nativity of Christ are made of linden wood. They date back to 1500. The furniture is upholstered with Flemish tapestries from 1495. Organ music reproduced on the corresponding instrument of 1795 release.

Road to the castle

How to get from London to Leeds Castle by car? A wonderful medieval building located from London to southeast direction only 64 kilometers. This is around Maidstone. You need to go along the routes B2163, M20.

How to get to Leeds Castle by train? Special routes developed direct message trains between Victoria station in London and the nearest station on railway Biersted, from where there are regular bus routes to the castle itself. The journey takes one hour. You can travel from another station - Waterloo. Trains stop very close to the castle, only twenty minutes away.

Leeds Castle is located 60 kilometers from London, in the English county of Kent. For more than thousand years of history this castle was a favorite abode of noble ladies, among whom there are at least six English queens. That is why Leeds, named after its first owner, Ledian, is called the "residence of queens."

The first wooden fortification grew on this site in 857, turning into a stone fortress only by 1119. Over time, Leeds went to the possessions of the English crown and belonged to her from the second half of XIII century before mid-sixteenth when returned to private property. During this period, more than one “hostess” has changed in the cozy castle. In 1278, the building was significantly rebuilt and strengthened by Edward I Long-legged for his beloved first wife, Eleanor of Castile, who gave birth to 16 children to the monarch. Further, the second wife of Edward I, Margaret of France, lived here for more than a decade after the death of the king. When she died, the heir to the throne, Edward II, made an exchange with Lord Badlesmere, giving Leeds for the Adderley estate in Shropshire. In 1321, the wife of the new owner of Leeds refused to let Queen Isabella, who wished to stay there, into her walls, and at the same time, people from the royal guard who tried to break inside were even killed. In response to this, King Edward II took the castle by siege, and thus regained Leeds and transferred it to the possession of Isabella, again defining it in female hands. Later, in the Tudor style, the castle was rebuilt for his wife, Catherine of Aragon, and Henry VIII, whose daughter, Elizabeth, languished in captivity within the same walls for some time.

The last owner of Leeds in 1926 was not the queen, but still a noble person - Lady Olive Bailey. Thanks to her contribution, Leeds Castle was miraculously transformed both outside and inside. To do this, she invited the best architects, decorators and art historians. Having recreated the ancient interiors and luxurious decoration of the castle, having collected within its walls unique collections of furniture, paintings and tapestries, ceramics and Chinese porcelain, it was Lady Bailey who made the castle the way you can see it now. She was engaged in the improvement of her property until the end of her days and even founded a special Leeds Castle Foundation for this purpose, which still takes care of the architectural and historical sights. Olive Bailey bequeathed Leeds to national ownership, and in 1976, the complex was opened to the general public.

Settled on the islands, the fort is surrounded by a spacious park that includes green golf courses, orchards and vineyards, a labyrinth of 2,500 yew trees; an aviary containing about 100 unique birds. It is quite unexpected to find here a museum of ancient dog collars, each of which is truly a work of art. For lovers of a more active holiday, Leeds regularly hosts a variety of social events: these are cocktail parties on the first Saturdays of the month, and summer outdoor concerts, and annual theme festivals. So we can safely say that the magnificent English Leeds Castle will be of interest to everyone without exception.

Leeds Castle sits on 2 lake islands along the River Len about 4 miles from Maidston in Kent. It is a medieval fortress, classified as one of the most beautiful castles in the world, and its name comes from the name of the Saxon nobleman Ledian, who built the first wooden fortress on this site in 857.

Its location meant that supplies and reinforcements in times of war could be brought along the river in time and without hindrance, thus preventing the garrison from being threatened with starvation. Leeds was a royal palace that belonged to the crown from 1278 to 1552; it was frequented in the Middle Ages by the Kings and Queens of England.

The castle consists of four forts, each of which was capable of independent defense. At the entrance, closest to the shore, there is a gate tower with a barbican. A stone bridge The one you walk across to the castle was originally a wooden drawbridge. gate tower looks like it would have looked like in the 13th century, when it served as quarters for servants and horses, and was also a significant defensive fortification. The central island was surrounded by a stone wall that was fifteen feet high. The tower of the commandant and the modern palace are also located here. South of this island are 2 defensive towers; Maiden's Tower and Water Tower.

The medieval citadel, known as Gloriette in memory of Queen Eleanor, is located on the smaller of the 2 islands. Built by King Edward I, it consists of a D-shaped tower that contained a large hall and living quarters. In addition to their unique architecture, royal interiors and family treasures, Leeds Castle is famous for the 500 acres of landscaped parkland that surrounds it and includes a labyrinth, aviary, grotto and vineyard. Leeds Castle is maintained by the Leeds Castle Foundation and has been open to the public since 1976.

Story

In 1119, Robert de Crevecoeur began building a stone fortress on the site where the Saxon earthwork had previously been.

A short time later, the fortress is mentioned in the history of the struggle for the English throne between Stephen of Blois and Empress Matilda. Leeds Castle, at that time owned by Robert, Earl of Gloucester, who was Matilda's half-brother. With his support, Matilda invaded England in 1139. However, Kent was loyal to Stephen and after a short siege, he gained control of the fortress.

In 1278 the Castle came under the control of King Edward I. It became the main residence of him and Eleanor of Castile. During this time, many improvements were made to the fortress, including the construction of the main citadel, barbican and walls.

AT last time the castle was besieged in 1321 when King Edward II attacked the fortress after Queen Isabella was denied entry. Since then, Leeds has never been besieged again. In 1381, Anne of Bohemia wintered at the castle before her marriage to King Richard II.

Leeds also became the King's favorite castle. Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Henry VIII converted the building into a royal palace, adding to its exterior many Tudor-style windows that we can still see today.

Ultimately, the castle was given to one of King Henry's courtiers for private ownership by King Edward IV. Since then, Leeds Castle has been a private property.

Leeds Castle survived the English civil wars, without suffering damage, since the Culpepper family, to which it belonged, was on the side of the parliamentarians. During the 17th century the main citadel was used as a prison for prisoners from France and Holland. However, after the prisoners set fire to it, the prison ceased to exist.

In 1926, Lady Olive Baillie, an American heiress, bought the castle from Wykeham Martins. She completely transformed its interior decoration, and later established the Leeds Castle Foundation.

Characters. Lady Bailey

It so happened that in 1926, Olive Wilson Filmer (Olive Wilson Filmer), who later became Lady Bailey, as well as six medieval queens of England, fell under the magical influence of Leeds Castle.

Lady Bailey's mother Pauline Whitney was a wealthy American society lady, and her father Almeric Paget was a British aristocrat, the last Lord of Queenborough. After moving to England, Oliva Bailey's mother became known as the most successful lady in the hotel industry. She also became famous for her fine collections of paintings and decorative furniture. Pauline Whitney died when Oliva was only 17 years old.

Having inherited great fortune her mother, as well as other wealthy relatives, Oliva could look to the future with confidence. In 1919 she married the venerable Charles Wynne. From this marriage she had two daughters, Pauline and Susan. The marriage was annulled in 1925 and Oliva became Mrs. Arthur Wilson Filmer by marrying Sir Robert Filmer's nephew.

Through this marriage, Oliva became related to a family of Kentish roots who owned the estate of East Sutton Park next door. In doing so, she satisfied the demand put forward by the seller of Leeds Castle Fairfax Wykeham Martin (Fairfax Wykeham Martin) for potential buyers.

Once the sale was completed, Oliva set about realizing her goal of restoring and transforming the castle. She dreamed of recreating a largely medieval castle and turning the citadel of Gloriette Castle into a French Gothic fantasy designed by Armand Albert Rateau. As an established and renowned collector, she was able to attract best architects and art advisors in Europe and America, enthusiastically set about creating beautiful interiors that visitors to the castle can see today.

In 1931, Oliva married Sir Adrian Baillie, and in 1936 she hired a French decorator, Stéphane Boudin, who took on the decoration of most interior spaces castle. In addition to restoring the castle building, they did not forget to improve the park. Lady Bailly contributed to the creation of the beautiful Wood Garden. A golf course was equipped on the adjacent territory, as well as a swimming pool and tennis courts, which undoubtedly gave great pleasure to both family members and numerous guests who attended receptions held in the castle.

Their last years Lady Bailey spent time with her family, continuing to decorate the castle. She died in 1974, bequeathing Leeds Castle forever to the nation, and entrusting the custody of the castle to charitable foundation Leeds Castle Foundation.

Located about four miles southeast of Maidstone - commercial center Kent - Leeds Castle with its picturesque surroundings looks like a surviving island of the era of romanticism. Its walls are silent witnesses centuries of history royal love affairs.

A Brief History of Leeds Castle

The history of Leeds stone castle dates back to beginning of XII century. Robert de Crevecoeur built it in 1119 on the site of the wooden fortress of the lord of Lida from the Anglo-Saxon estate of Esledes. In 1278 English king Edward I and his wife Eleanor of Castile visited this place and were blown away by its incredible beauty. Since then, Leeds Castle has become a royal palace. To meet the needs of the king and queen, the building was technically improved. To protect the entrance to the fortress, the Barbican was built, consisting of three parts, each of which had its own separate entrance, drawbridge, lock and discharge grate. It was built near a stone bridge, at the entrance to one of the four forts of the fortress, which is closer to the coast than others. The original construction of the bridge was wooden and movable.

The most striking episodes in the existence of Leeds Castle include an event that occurred in 1321. And this happened shortly after the king handed over the fortress to his chamberlain: Queen Isabella, who arrived at the castle in search of shelter, was not only not allowed inside, but even fired upon by archers. Edward II, enraged that his queen was denied entry to the castle grounds, ordered his men to attack him. He used ballistae, or torsion-throwing machines, to force the people in the castle to open the gates and allow him and his men to enter. Many historians believe that Edward II dealt ruthlessly with most of the people who by their actions dishonored the queen by refusing her entry.

Perhaps the most famous owner the castle was King Henry VIII, who rebuilt it for his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Its walls are decorated with a stunning painting called “Field of Golden Brocade”, reminding the guests of the fortress of the luxurious meeting held in 1520 between Henry VIII and the French King Francis I.

Lady Bailey and her upgrades

The last owner of Leeds Castle was the indomitable Lady Bailey, who purchased it in 1926 and, with the help of French interior designers, transformed the palace into her own. new house. She dedicated most his life improving this castle, which was opened to the public in 1976. Today, visitors from all over the world come to see this magnificent monument of history and architecture, surrounded by a 500-acre landscaped park with its labyrinth and secret cave, aviaries and waterfowl, grotto and vineyard.

The castle is still used not only as a residence, but also as a corporate conference center, where tapestries on medieval walls and the roar of fireplaces create general atmosphere warmth, aristocracy and comfort. So if you're looking for a venue for your next board meeting, look no further than Leeds Castle. Don't forget to take your golf clubs with you as there is a golf course adjoining its territory.

Leeds Castle is an English castle located in Kent, England. Leeds is perhaps one of the most beautiful and mysterious medieval English castles. The name of the castle comes from the name of the Saxon nobleman Ledian, who built a fortress on this site in 857.
In 1119, Robert de Crevecoeur began building a stone fortress here, and soon the fortress of Leeds was already playing very well. important role in the struggle for the English throne.
In 1278, Leeds Castle passed into the possession of King Edward I (Edward I) and even became his main and main residence. It was during that period that many improvements were made in the fortress - the main citadel, the barbican and walls were built.
Later, Leeds was also the castle of King Henry VIII (Henry VIII), who converted the fortress into a royal palace.
As a result, the castle went to one of the courtiers of King Henry in private ownership. Since then, Leeds Castle has been a private property.
In general, Leeds Castle is very lucky, if it can be said about the castle. So, he survived several serious sieges, endured civil wars without damage, and, in addition, there were several fires here. By the way, one of them happened when Leeds Castle was used as a prison.
In 1926, the property was acquired by the wealthy American heiress Lady Olive Baillie. She completely redid the interior decoration, hiring the best designers, and also managed to collect fine collections of furniture, paintings, tapestries and porcelain in the castle. It is known that Lady Bailey has long dreamed of having a real medieval castle, and therefore she did not spare any effort or money to make her dream come true. So, in addition to the actual interior decoration of Leeds, she also arranged the land adjacent to it, creating a beautiful park, as well as all kinds of entertainment - a golf course, a swimming pool, a tennis court. She also founded the Leeds Castle Foundation. It is known that Lady Bailey spent her last years with her family in the castle, and the work on decorating the castle never stopped. According to the will, the castle passed to the nation, and custody of the castle was entrusted to the Foundation.
Leeds Castle opened to the public in 1976. So, in the eyes of today's tourists, the castle appears as a powerful and incredibly beautiful building in its power, unique in its architecture. It was erected on two islands on the River Len, and from this there is a feeling that the fabulous Leeds Castle seemed to have grown out of the water. Besides, great amount truly valuable and rare items await tourists inside the castle.
The castle itself consists of four forts, each of which is equipped and ready for independent and independent defense. The stone bridge that leads to the castle was once a wooden drawbridge.
The windows of the castle offer a truly breathtaking view of the river, and these surroundings are famous for a huge number of all kinds of birds. By the way, exotic birds also live in a specially equipped aviary in the park, and, moreover, in the famous English garden Leeds Castle has a small grotto and a green labyrinth.
The austere, romantic charm of Leeds Castle makes it one of the most interesting medieval castles in England, and despite its notoriety being outclassed by several other castles in England such as Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace, Leeds has a huge following who appreciate it. just for this somewhat harsh beauty.