Leeds Castle, one of the most beloved castles in England by the British, they consider it "the most beautiful castle in the world." Leeds - castle thousand years of history, taking on different appearances at the request of the time of the Saxon military fortress, the favorite castle of six medieval queens of England, to become one of the most visited historical monuments In Great Britain.
History of Leeds Castle
The castle is named after Ledian, former head of government of King Ethelbert IV (856-860). The construction of the first Saxon fortress on the Lena River began in 857. The Saxon castle was a traditional earthen fortification with a wooden fence. There are no traces of him left. 
In 1090, William II gave the estate to a cousin, Hamo de Crèvecoeur, who arrived in England with William the Conqueror. In 1119, Haemo's grandson, Robert, began building the first stone fortification where the castle stands today, on two rocky islands in the middle of the Len River. 
The watchtower, the main fortification, is located on the smaller of the islands. The main internal buildings were inside the walls on a larger island, which was connected with watchtower and a drawbridge over a moat filled with water. 
Building work continued sporadically during the 12th and 13th centuries. Several details remain, such as the medieval Gothic window at the end of the Banquet Hall and the archway on the watchtower that marks the site of the original gate. 
A political upheaval in the middle of the 13th century led to a change in ownership. Then and new owner, William de Leyburne, who fell out of favor despite his years of loyal service to Henry III and Edward I, lost Leeds. In 1278, Edward's beloved wife, Eleanor of Castile, became the new owner of the castle.
Fortress wall of the castle From this time on long years Leeds Castle became royal property. The first task for the new owners was to strengthen the protective walls and create comfortable conditions life for the queen. Extensive changes were made to the castle, some of which can be seen today. 
By this time, the strengthening of the supporting fortress wall, surrounding more large island. It was raised 10 meters or 30 feet from the water and reinforced with D-shaped defensive towers. 
drawbridge connected main island with a small one, which housed the central tower. It begins to be referred to in the accounts as the Gloriette, literally "eye catcher", a Spanish term for a building situated on the most vantage point of the landscape. Between 1278 and 1290 the main hall (now the Banqueting Hall) and the room now occupied by the chapel were made in the Gloriette.
Gloriette Elinor died in 1290. Nine years later, to improve complex political relations with France, Edward married the French princess Margaret, sister of Philip IV. Edward and Margaret spent their honeymoon in Leeds and a few weeks later the king gave the castle to the new queen. This started the tradition that the castle became the personal property of the queen. 
In the 14th century a new outer gate was built, with two turrets and a drawbridge. In the watchtower on the top floor, hinged loopholes were completed, through which boiling resin could be poured onto the attackers. During the 14th and 15th centuries, the castle passed from queen to queen without significant changes in design.
Major changes to the castle were undertaken between 1517–1523 by decree of Henry VIII (1509–47). Leeds was transformed from a fortified citadel into a magnificent royal palace for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.
Fireplace in the Spanish chambers An upper floor has been added to the Gloriette. Fireplaces, decorated royal coat of arms and Spanish motifs indicate that this floor was made for the Queen.
Finally, in 1552, after almost three hundred years of royal ownership, Leeds was leased to Sir Anthony St Leger as a reward for his services to Henry VIII in defeating the rebellion in Ireland. The annual rent was £10.
Ceiling in the castle Leeds' history of private ownership reflects the political turbulence of the next two centuries. The castle passed from hand to hand depending on the political and financial capabilities of the owners.
Unlike many aristocratic houses, Leeds remained relatively undamaged during the Civil War because the then owner, Sir Cheney Culpeper, supported Cromwell.
The castle suffered major damage during the 1660s when Lord Culpeper leased it to the government for the custody of French and Dutch prisoners of war. The prisoners housed in the Gloriette set fire to their quarters, causing destruction that was not restored until 1822. From 1690 to 1793 Leeds was owned by the Fairfax family.
forest park In 1821, after passing through several more owners, Leeds inherited Fiennes Wickeham. He hired the architect William Baskett to inspect the castle. The architect's conclusion about the state of the castle was devastating. The walls and the barbican were in ruins, the watchtower and the inner tower were in ruins. bad condition, the main, Jacobean house and Gloriette, were disintegrating. Wickham Martin decided to destroy main house and replace it with a new Tudor style. In 1823 the reconstruction of the castle was completed. The gaping hole that had disfigured the Gloriette since the middle of the 17th century was closed, the interior walls restored, and the moat cleared.
Lady Bailly's boudoir By 1925, a hundred years after the restoration, the Wickeham family was forced to sell the property in order to pay inheritance taxes. The estate was purchased by an Anglo-American heiress who became Lady Bailey after her third marriage. Lady Bailly decided to recreate the interior medieval castle. On the first floor of the "new house" an internal hall was created, a stone staircase was built, and the large hall was converted into a library.
The banquet hall, previously divided into buffet, kitchen and dishwasher, has returned to its full size; The chapel was completely dismantled and became a music room. The upper floors have been remodeled into comfortable rooms with modern amenities,
mediterranean terrace The extensive parklands surrounding the castle were created in the early 18th century. The park is divided by channels and lakes where ducks, geese and swans live. In the 20th century, the park around the castle was completely redesigned. Tennis courts, squash courts and a swimming pool appeared on the territory. The large park was divided into several parts. The forest park is located next to the river.
Named after the family that owned Leeds Castle in the 17th century, Culpeper's Garden was formerly the castle's vegetable garden. In the garden there is a labyrinth of yew bushes. An underground grotto is hidden inside it.
Culpeper's Garden On the territory of the old aviary housed Lady Bailly's garden. This is a favorite place for visitors to the castle. Created in a Mediterranean style, the terrace allows you to enjoy a superb view across the river.
After Lady Bailly's death in 1974, Leeds Castle and its historic park were taken over by the charitable trust she owns. founded at the end of her life.
Information for tourists
Leeds Castle is one of the most popular attractions in the UK. A combination of beautiful landscape and historical meaning the castle will make visiting it unforgettable for you.
The castle is open from April to September from 10:30 to 18:00 (last entry at 16:30) and from October to March from 10:30 to 17:00 (last entry at 15:30). 
Ticket price for adults - 19.00 £; children (4-15 years old) - £ 11.00.
You can purchase tickets online at https://www.maximweb.co/leedscastlev8_ui_full/events.aspx.
Additionally, for £ 3.25 they issue an audio guide in English, French, German, Spanish, Russian and Japanese.
How to get to Leeds Castle
Leeds Castle is located halfway between London and Dover, on the M20 motorway, about 10 km southeast of Maidstone.
forest park The best way to travel from London is by train. Southeastern trains leave for Leeds almost every hour from Victoria Station. For timetables and tickets, visit southeasternrailway.co.uk. Travel time is about 1 hour 10 minutes. Get off at Bearsted station. Spot Travel buses depart from here from April to October. Journey time is 25 minutes. Spot Travel website is www.spottravel.co.uk.
AT winter months the bus service operates only on Saturdays and Sundays. Buses depart from Bearsted train station at 10:10, 11:10, 12:10, 13:10 and 14:10.
Well, those who like to walk can take a forty-minute walk of 2.1 miles from Hollingbourne station, the closest to the castle.
In my opinion, it is one of the most beautiful castles in England. This is amazing building is located on two islands on the River Len, just 60 km from London. The castle can be reached from the capital by train or taxi. Of course, it is not as famous as, for example, Buckingham Palace, but it is famous for its harsh and at the same time romantic beauty.
This huge estate is located among gentle hills in a picturesque area.
The castle survived a long and interesting story. It is named after its first owner, Lid, who built a wooden fortification here in 857. Castle in different times belonged to the Saxon lord, the Norman nobleman, King Edward I and Henry VIII.
Nowadays, the castle is the property of a foundation founded by the last owner of the castle, the aristocratic Olive Bailey. Thanks to her efforts, many interior spaces. The Lady Bailey Foundation is engaged in the improvement of the castle itself and the surrounding area.
The entrance to the castle is paid, at the entrance on bail they give an audio guide in Russian, so there will be no problems with the perception of the castle itself and its history.
We started our tour of the castle in the basement, where the wine cellar is currently located. For the production of wine, a vineyard is used, located on the territory of the castle.
The castle has a magnificent collection of paintings, antique furniture and tapestries.
It is a very unusual feeling when you wander through the old rooms and imagine how they lived in it, because life was seething here, and the owners of the castle warmed up by the huge fireplaces.
There are sculptures in one of the rooms. royal dynasty Tudors: Henry VIII, Queens Mary and Elizabeth, and King Edward VI.
In general, the inside is very interesting. On display are the dresses of Lady Bailey herself, some of the gizmos of her daughters. The library impressed me a lot. I looked at old publications on art, culture of many countries and design for a long time.
Various biblical scenes are depicted on the wall in the prayer room.
This is what the bathroom of the English queens looked like.
I was very impressed by the huge and beautiful area of the park near the castle. There is a lot of greenery, flowers, shrubs, trees. There are small ponds, next to which birds calmly walk. It even has its own golf course. You can wander around the castle grounds for hours, have a small picnic or just relax somewhere in the shade.
Dog lovers will love the unique Collar Museum, which houses a collection of antique collars from the 15th-17th centuries.
Very handsome Culpepper garden, which houses several aviaries with exotic birds, a grotto, forest gardens and a vegetable labyrinth of many trimmed yew trees.
Children will love the funny playground, and from the main entrance to the territory of the castle itself, you can ride with the whole family on a small green train.
Leeds Castle hosts a variety of events and can be booked for weddings, conferences or other private gatherings.
In the summer, grandiose concerts are held here under open sky.
In general, the castle is beautiful both outside and inside. He left only pleasant memories of himself.
Leeds Castle sits on 2 lake islands along the River Len about 4 miles from Maidston in Kent.
This is a medieval fortress, classified as one of the finest castles in the world.
A castle rich in history and events, which can be found very often in history, and with which the history of England is inextricably linked. The very name of the castle Leeds comes from the name of its first owner - Senor Lida. It was he who in 857 built a small wooden fortress on this site. The first facts about the castle date back to the end of the 11th century. Then there was a census in England land plots, population of Leeds and other general data about the city. All collected information was entered into the Book doomsday(or as it was also called - "Domesday Book", "Domesday Book") - a set of information from the first European medieval census, which was carried out in England from 1085 to 1086 under the leadership of William the Conqueror.
On the site of a wooden structure in 1119, Robert de Creveker erects stone castle. In 1278, the castle was significantly altered by Edward Longshanks, it was a gift for his wife, Eleanor of Castile. Until 1318, the castle was the property of the widowed queens of England. Yes, in it long time Margaret of France lived. Edward II, after the death of his stepmother, changes Leeds to Adderley Castle, located in Shropshire. The estate was then owned by Lord Bartholomew Badlesmere.
Its location meant that supplies and reinforcements in times of war could be brought along the river on 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.
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.
In the autumn of 1321, Queen Isabella wanted to stop at Leeds on her way to Canterbury. But at that time the owner of the castle, Lord Badlesmere, was not at home, and his wife refused to accept the queen. Some of Isabella's guards were killed trying to break through the walls of Leeds. Already in October 1321, in response to such an insult, Edward II captured the castle, relatives (including Badlesmere's wife) were arrested and sent to the Tower fortress. Frightened by the bitter fate of the defenders of Leeds, the garrisons of other castles, of which Badlesmere was the master, surrendered to the king themselves.
It is believed that already in 1321 the castle was presented to Queen Isabella. Documents say otherwise that the castle became the property of the queen only in 1327. Henceforth, no one captured the castle anymore; for many centuries it remained the residence of the queens of England.
In 1381, Anne of Bohemia wintered at the castle before her marriage to King Richard II.
In 1395, Richard II met at the castle with the French chronicler Jean Froissart, who wrote about this meeting in his Chronicles. When the owner of the castle became Henry VIII, he changed the castle especially for his beloved wife, Catherine of Aragon. In Leeds, you can see a canvas depicting the meeting of Henry VIII and King Francis I. The future Queen of England, Elizabeth, was temporarily imprisoned here.
Leeds also became the favorite castle of King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon. Henry VIII converted the building into a royal palace, adding to its exterior many of the 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.
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, came 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.
She invited best architects and interior designers, completely changed the interior of the castle. The famous architect Armand-Albert Rato worked not only with appearance castle, but also with the furnishings inside, for example, he installed an oak staircase in the castle in the style of the 16th century. Later, a French decorator, Stefan Boudin, worked in Leeds. Lady Bailey has amassed various collections of furniture, ceramics, linens and expensive porcelain at the castle over the years. She restored the royal chambers and the royal bathroom - they are made in the style of the beginning of the 15th century, in the style of the times Catherine of Valois, wife of Henry V. Lady Bailey also created the Leeds Castle Foundation, which raises funds for the improvement, development and general content castle and a huge park and garden adjacent to the castle.
In 1931, Oliva married Sir Adrian Baillie, and in 1936 she hired a French decorator, Stéphane Boudin, who took over the decoration of most of the interior of the 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.
The complex has been open to the public since 1976. A tour of the castle includes a visit to the old Gloriet building, named after Eleanor of Castile. Dog lovers will be interested in the unique collar museum. Also of interest are the features English garden Culpepper, which houses several aviaries of exotic birds, including rare black swans, forest gardens, a grotto and a green maze. There is even a public 9-hole golf course.
Leeds provides the venue for many of England's events in Kent. The castle can be booked for conferences, weddings and other private gatherings. On the first Saturday of each month, the caretaker hosts a cocktail and five-course meal party for private groups. And in June and July there are big open-air concerts.
Leeds Castle in England may not be as famous as Windsor Castle or Buckingham Palace, but its romantic beauty is unmatched by ancient British buildings.
Leeds is 60 km from London, so you can easily get there by train (station 6 km) or by taxi. The complex is open daily from 10.00 to 17.00 (in winter period until 15.00). Admission for adults - £18.50, children under 15 - £11.00 Official website: www.leeds-castle.com
While in England, you should definitely visit Leeds Castle, here you can see: for nature lovers - a "living maze" of 3 thousand yews; for bird lovers - a huge poultry house, where you can see more than a hundred rare and exotic birds; and for those who love "four-legged friends", there is also a dog collar museum, which exhibits a collection of collars from the 15th century to our time.
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 of 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 landscape 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 adjacent to its territory.
