Henley to Kent - Leeds Castle

We are leaving our most luxurious BnB in Henley and heading to Kent to stay at Hever Castle. This BnB is so spacious and there is nothing she could add to make our stay better. The only issue we had was reception for the TV which might be out of her control. This appears to be her home, she appears to live alone, probably a lawyer and away on holidays. I burnt the toast and was worried about the smoky smell but she was most gracious when we apologised.

Before we check in at Hever Castle we visit Leeds Castle which is also in Kent. Foundations date from 1119 but little remains of the original. It was remodelled in 1278 by Queen Consort of Edward I. This was followed by five succeeding medieval queens over the next 300 years. Seems it has had a long affiliation with women.

It remained a royal residence until 1552 after which it remained in the hands of succeeding generations of interlinked families. It does have some history with Henry VIII (who seems to have been involved in the history of lots of castles).

In 1926 it was sold to pay crippling death duties and was bought by a woman, Mrs Olive Cecelia Filmer who later remarried to become Lady Olive Baillie. She had had several inheritances. So, with her great supplies of energy, ambition and wealth, the castle was re-imaged as a luxurious country house retreat under her patronage. It has been managed by the Leeds Castle Foundation since 1974.

At the outbreak of WWII, Lady Baillie and her children moved into the Gloriette (the oldest part of the main building) and the restored New Castle served as a hospital. No doubt due to its convenient location, many of the ill-fated British Exhibitionary Force were repatriated and cared for here after the fall of Dunkirk in 1940.

The castle is large and surrounded with a large moat, then vast areas of lawn. The gardens are set away from the immediate precinct of the castle which is unusual when we compare what we have seen. Gardens and lake settings abound and we took a short boat trip across one of the lakes (or maybe it was an arm of the lake system).

John and I visited in 2015 and I guess things haven’t changed too much.Read more