Leeds, near Maidstone
Kent
England
Circa Date: 12th century, possibly incorporating earlier elements, w/13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 18th, 19th & 20th century alterations and additions
Status: Fully Extant
House Open to Public: Yes
Country House: Yes
An 1825 engraving of the house from "Neale's Views of Seats"
An 1825 engraving of the house from "Neale's Views of Seats"
Earlier Houses: Leeds sits atop two islands in the center of a lake and served as a 9th century Saxon royal manor. Elements of this earlier house may have been incorporated into the current house.
House & Family History: Though the current castle is mostly the result of the work in the 19th and 20th centuries, Leeds was listed in the "Domesday Book," as a Norman fortress. The castle later became an English royal palace and was the residence of six medieval queens of England; royal ownership ended under Henry VIII. The 20th century restoration of Leeds was accomplished with the fortune of the Anglo-American heiress Olive, Lady Baillie, the last private owner of the castle. Lady Baillie purchased Leeds in in 1926 and established the Leeds Castle Foundation before her death in 1974.
Collections: Leeds Castle contains good collections of tapestries and furniture and the famous Dog Collar Museum.
Comments: Leeds is frequently called "the loveliest castle in the world."
Garden & Outbuildings: The castle sits in 500 acres of parkland and features a yew maze, formal gardens, and an aviary.
Architect: William Baskett
Date: 1822-25John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: Vol. I, p. 76, 1852.
John Preston (J.P.) Neale, published under the title of Views of the Seats of Noblemen and Gentlemen in England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. II, 1825.
Country Life: I, 435, 1897. XXXIV, 806, 856 plan, 1913. LXXX, 568 plan, 600, 1936. CLXXIII, 925, 1018, 1983.
Title: Movie Locations: A Guide to Britain & Ireland
Author: Adams, Mark
Year Published: 2000
Publisher: London: Boxtree
ISBN: 0752271695
Book Type: Softback
Title: Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840, A - SOFTBACK
Author: Colvin, Howard
Year Published: 1995
Publisher: New Haven: Yale University Press
ISBN: 0300072074
Book Type: Softback
House Listed: Grade I
Park Listed: Grade II*
Past Seat / Home of: SEATED AT CURRENT HOUSE: de Crevecoeur family, 13th century. King Edward I, 13th century. Queen Catherine of Aragon, 16th century. Sir Anthony St. Leger, 16th century. Smyth family, 17th century. Sir Thomas Colepepper, 17th century. Fiennes Wykeham, until 1840; Charles Wykeham-Martin, 1840-70. Olive, Lady Baillie, 1926-74.
Current Ownership Type: Charity / Nonprofit
Primary Current Ownership Use: Mixed Use
Ownership Details: Owned by Leeds Castle Foundation
House Open to Public: Yes
Phone: 01622-765-400
Fax: 01622-735-616
Email: [email protected]
Website: https://www.leeds-castle.com
Awards: Tourist Attraction of the Year 2002.
Historic Houses Member: No