LEEDS CASTLE, KENT

LEEDS CASTLE - A NO ORDINARY CASTLE

Mr brother Chong drove us to Leeds Castle on a fine sunday morning.

The journey from Staines to Kent is about 3-hour.

This is our first trip (mother, brother and myself) and hopefully this will not be our last one to Leeds Castle.

Upon reaching the castle, I can't help but keep starring at the magical castle, even before reaching its entrance.

The castle is so beautiful, lively and sparkling. It is just like God sent thing.

GIGANTIC LEEDS CASTLE, KENT

While in the castle, I can't wait to explore every corner and rooms open for visitors.

This includes - a treasure house of paintings, tapestries and antiques.

The castle is so huge whereby most visitors here almost lost track of where they are and where they had been through. It is just like a 'maze' in the castle. The rooms are namely - The Heraldry Room, The Queen's Room, The Queen's Bathroom, The Queen's gallery, Henry VIII Banqueting Hall, The Chapel, The Boardroom, The Yellow Bedroom, Seminar Room, Dressing Room, Lady Baillie's Bedroom, Catherine of Aragon Bedroom, Main Staircase, Yellow Drawing Room, Thorpe's Hall Drawing Room, Inner Hall, Library and Dinning Room. Each place has a story to tell!

EXPLORING THE ROOMS IN LEEDS CASTLE

The castle's gardens is a good place to wander through the tranquil grounds and woodland walks, picnic in the parkland or play a round of golf on the 9-hold golf course.

Do discover over 70 rare and exotic birds in the Aviary area, around the castle.

Visitors can spend time relaxing in the quintessentially English Culpeper garden and the Mediterranean terraced Lady Baillie garden with subtropical flowers and plants.

SWAN ARE PLENTIFUL AT THE GARDEN AND RIVERSIDE

Do not be surprised – Leeds Castle award-winning wine is produced from grapes grown in the castle vineyard – available in the castle's shops and restaurants.

Leeds Castle is set in 500 acres of beautiful parkland, some 1000 years ago, in Kent, England.

Leeds Castle's last private owner, Lady Baillie, lovingly restored the castle to its former glory and founded the Leeds Castle Foundation in 1974.

Every visitor to Leeds Castle helps the Foundation to continue its valuable work preserving the castle and grounds for the enjoyment of future generations.

HISTORY

Originally the site is of a Saxon manor, Leeds castle has been a Norman stronghold, a royal residence of six medieval Queens of England, a favorite palace for Henry VIII and a 1920s country retreat. Norman conquered England in 1066. To consolidate their conquest they built a large number of castles all over the country. Castles were not only military base and fortresses; they were actual homes for the Normans, safe from surprise attack by a hostile population. By the end of the 12^th century, they had built over 1000 castles – and Leeds Castle was one of those castles.

LEEDS CASTLE - BACK ENTRANCE

Leed was built in stone in 1119 by the Norman owner of this estate, Robert de Crevecoeur. In 1278, during the reign of King Edward I, it became one of the royal castles and stayed in royal-hands until 1552, when King Edward VI granted it to Sir Anthony St Leger. It then passed down through five families, until 1926 when an Anglo-American heiress, who later through marriage became Lady Baillie, bought it.

JULY 29, 2007