Leeds Castle was built near Greenwich in the middle of a natural lake surrounded by 500 acres of parkland and gardens. It was originally built as a Norman stronghold in 1119 AD on the manor lands listed in the Doomsday Book by William the Conqueror as Esledes (meaning manor or a unit of land). It became a royal castle in 1278 AD when it was purchased by Eleanor of Castile, wife of King Edward I who began building the new castle section known as the Gloriette and the castle became part of the dower for the Queens of England. The Castle left the royal possession when it was granted to Sir Anthony St. Leger for a yearly rent of 10 pounds by King Henry VIII in 1552. In 1925, the family was forced to sell the castle and estate to pay the death duties and it was purchased by Lady Baillie who renovated and restored. After her death, it was left in the care of a foundation which maintains the castle and gardens to be open to visitors.
Leeds Castle – exterior with water in the forefront
Purple flowers in outside garden
Laura walking outside the castle walls
Exterior of the Gloriette
Moat
View of the moat from an interior window
Tower stairway
Window seat in the Queen’s bedroom – look at the thickness of the walls and the window shutters
Main castle from the court yard
Laura hoping the portcullis does not come down on her! (Portcullis was built in the reign of Edward III in the late 14th century)
Exterior of Leeds Castle from the back on the pathway to the maze
A walk through the gardens
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