Leeds Castle

Leeds Castle stands on two islands in a lake formed by the River Len in Kent, seven miles southeast of Maidstone. The first wooden structure was built by a Saxon chief in 857, and later rebuilt in stone by the Normans. King Edward I enlarged the castle and created the surrounding lake in the 13th century. Henry VIII remodelled it for Catherine of Aragon in the 16th century. The present building dates mostly from the early 19th century, though Lady Baillie’s 20th-century restorations gave it its current appearance. The castle has witnessed key moments in English history. In 1321, forces loyal to Edward II captured it from Margaret de Clare after she refused entry to the king’s consort. Richard II received the chronicler Jean Froissart here in 1395. During the English Civil War, the castle served as an arsenal and prison under Sir Cheney Culpeper. In the 1930s, Lady Baillie hosted royalty, politicians and film stars at lavish house parties. Visitors today find a Grade I-listed estate with Tudor-style interiors restored by Lady Baillie. The 16th-century chapel windows were reworked by Galyon Hone. A carved-oak staircase and French-designed rooms reflect her taste. The grounds include a commemorative sundial linked to the Fairfax family’s Virginia estates. The castle remains open to the public on the islands in the lake, where the River Len once powered the original defences.