Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

Grade I listed building. Main construction periods 1100 to 1822. A 13th century moated royal castle substantially rebuilt in the 19th century. The castle came into Crown ownership c.1278 and was probably founded as a motte and bailey. The castle was substantially rebuilt by Edward I and the watermill belonging to the castle was repaired in 1299-1300. The castle was besieged and captured in 1321. It had been made over to Queen Eleanor by Edward I and for the next two centuries it formed part of the Queen's dower. Sir John Oldcastle was tried for heresy in 1413 in the Greater Chapel within the castle. From the 17th century onwards the Castle passed through various hands. Much building was done in the Tudor period when the Maiden Tower was added. Much of what remains at the Castle today dates from the 19th century when the main structure was rebuilt and battlements added to the Gloriette and the Maiden's Tower. The interior was remodelled during the first half of the 20th century.

Monument Types

• CASTLE (Medieval to Modern - 1100 AD to 2050 AD)
• MOAT (Medieval to Modern - 1278 AD? to 2050 AD?)

Full description

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Watching brief in the grounds of Leeds castle found a number of C19th artefacts (see TQ 85 SW 101) (2)

Description from record TQ 85 SW 4:
[TQ 8364 5324] Leeds Castle [NR] (1) Leeds Castle, Kent, is a moated castle consisting of a barbican, bailey and keep built on three islets connected to each other and the bank by drawbridges. The site was originally fortified by the Normans, but only the cellars at the north-east end of the bailey remain of their work, the present buildings date from 1280. (2) Leeds Castle, a private residence, is as described above. There are considerable modern additions. Castle and moat are in excellent condition. See GP's AO/61.76/7 Barbican from south-east: /8 Castle from south. AO/61/74/1 Watergate from south, /2 Castle and Keep from west. (3) Leeds Castle is one of the most important medieval buildings in Kent. It is built on three islands in a lake fed by the River Len. Its original builders were the Crevequer or Crevecoeur family who founded Leeds Priory in 1112. From them it passed to the Crown about 1299. Edward I carried out some work there. In 1359 William of Wickham, Bishop of Winchester, became Warden of the Castle and partly rebuilt it. Richard II and Henry IV both resided here. In 1420 Joan of Navarre, the second wife of Henry IV, was imprisoned here. In 1440 Eleanor, Duchess of Gloucester, the aunt of Henry VI, was tried here for sorcery. During the reign of Henry VIII, the Warden of the Castle, Sir Henry Guildford partly rebuilt the Castle at the King's expense. Sir Richard Smythe again rebuilt the main inhabited portion about 1616, and this was rebuilt once again by Fiennes Wykeham-Martin in 1822. The Outer Barbican. The ruins of this to the west of the Gatehouse on the western island, the west tip of which is in Leeds Parish, are the oldest surviving portion of the Castle. They probably dated from the 13th century. The Gatehouse. 13th to 14th century. The Outer Bailey. Late 13th century. The curtain wall which forms the Outer Bailey rises from the bed of the moat and runs right round the centre island, with four semi-circular bastions. The Bath House. Towards the west end of the south face of this wall are two pointed arches which give entrance to this bathing place, now a boat-house. It was made by Edward I in 1291-2. The Maiden's Tower. The building was erected during the reign of Henry VIII. The main portion of the Castle. This was rebuilt by Fiennes Wykeham-Martin in 1822 on the site of the house built by Sir Richard Smythe about 1616. Some of the cellars date from the early 17th century or from the medieval period. The Gloriette or Keep. This stands on the north-east island and was originally joined to the centre island by a drawbridge only. It is now linked to it by a bridge with a castellated parpet over that dates from 1822.

A 13th century moated royal castle substantially rebuilt in the 19th century. The castle came into Crown ownership c.1278 and was probably founded as a motte and bailey. The castle was substantially rebuilt by Edward I and the watermill belonging to the castle was repaired in 1299-1300. The castle was besieged and captured in 1321. It had been made over to Queen Eleanor by Edward I and for the next two centuries it formed part of the Queen's dower. Sir John Oldcastle was tried for heresy in 1413 in the Greater Chapel within the castle. From the 17th century onwards the Castle passed through various hands. Much building was done in the Tudor period when the Maiden Tower was added. Much of what remains at the Castle today dates from the 19th century when the main structure was rebuilt and battlements added to the Gloriette and the Maiden's Tower. The interior was remodelled during the first half of the 20th century. (39)

additional bibliography (40-44)

The following text is from the original listed building designation:
BROOMFIELD Leeds Castle TQ 85 SW 2/2 20.10.52 GV I
Castle. Early-to-mid C12, with C13, C14, C15 and C16 alterations. Partly rebuilt 1822 by Fiennes Wykeham-Martin. Interiors remodelled first half of C20. Stone, with plain tile roofs. Motte-and-bailey castle with shell keep, moated from at least 1272. Two islands. Larger island: aligned north-east/south-west. South-west gatehouse, linked to inner barbican by stone bridge, one parapet wall extending south-east as retaining wall of south- east causeway. Watergate and Maidens Tower to south and east side. 1822 block to north-east end. All buildings linked by bastioned enceinte wall. Smaller island or Gloriette: aligned north-south, reached by bridge from 1822 block. Extended D shape, with small courtyard. Bridge to gatehouse of 2 pointed arches with ramped parapet. Gatehouse: core possibly early-to-mid C13. Altered and extended in late C13. Machicolations added late C14/early C15. Further alterations in C16 and C17. Deep gateway flanked by 2 parallel ranges of obliquely receding wings. 2 storeys, on battered plinth. Hipped roofs to wings and to south-west section of gateway: Gateway battlemented to north-east. South-west elevation has blocked loop lights, 2 pointed-arched windows and C16 two-light windows with squared hoodmoulds. Paired trefoiled lancets and windows with Y tracery to north-east. Depressed- pointed south-west arch of 2 orders with portcullis groove (similar to barbican gateways), with deep machicolations added above. Various 2-centred arched north-east doorways. Bridge and gateway paved with setts. Watergate: possibly early-to-mid C13, converted to bath in late C13; or built in late C13. Built beneath outer enceinte wall. Rectangular, vaulted, with 2 vaulted passages to moat and internal stone stairs to upper chamber. 2 low pointed arches to moat, with portcullis groove. Maidens Tower: C16, altered ?1750 and 1822. Two storeys, with third at lower level to south, on plinth. Formerly gabled. Battlemented in about 1750, or in 1822. Hipped roof. Projecting first-floor corbelled stack to rear to left, with adjacent garderobe projection. Regular 6-window front of hollow-chamfered stone mullioned windows with rounded lights and squared hoodmoulds; one 3-light towards each end, flanked by 2-light windows 4-centred arched doorway with moulded jambs and later 3-light window above, under principal window to left, and another, with rounded hoodmould, to right of centre. 1822 block: in a C16 style. Rectangular, with octagonal corner turrets. Slightly projecting central gateway, also with octagonal turrets. 2 storeys, with 3-storey gate-tower, on moulded plinth. Moulded string above ground and first floor windows, and to attic of gateway. Battlemented. Lancet loop light to each stage of tower. Irregular fenestration of 7 stone mullioned and transomed windows with hollow-chamfered round-headed lights and squared hoodmoulds; two 6-light and central 8-light to left of gateway, one 8-light to gateway, and two 6-light, one 8-light and one single light to right. 4-light mullioned window to attic of gateway. Ground- floor windows taller. 2-storey canted bay to each gable end. 4-centred arched moulded doorway with hoodmould. Ribbed door. Replaced a C17 building, probably on site of hall. Outer enceinte walls: possibly early-to-mid C13, altered in late C13; or built in late C13 (accounts 1298-9). Formerly with five D-shaped turrets or bastions, 2 to north-west, 3 to south and east side. Truncated and stone-coped, except for north-east bastion(the Ivy Tower) which has semi-conical roof. Replaced C12 inner enceinte walls with square bastions. Bridge to Gloriette: largely 1822. Two storeys, built over 2 pointed arches, with string courses, battlements and C16-style stone mullioned windows with squared hoodmoulds. Gloriette: outer walls and windows possibly C12, altered late C13, C14, C16 and 1822. 2 storeys on battered plinth. Shallow semi- circular north turret. 3-storey bell turret to north end of bridge, with bell dated 1435. String courses above ground and first floor windows. Battlements of 1822. Garderobe projection to north-east. Projecting corbelled first floor stack to each side. Ground floor windows of late C13 and early C14, including pair of 2-light transomed windows to west half of south elevation with Y tracery, moulded architraves and continuous moulded hoodmould. First floor windows and 2-storey canted bay window to west of c. 1520-30. Interior: only partly inspected. Moulded interior hoods to 3 of the south windows of Gloriette. Cellar, possibly C12, with low pointed-arched vault under 1822 block, with fragment of narrow stone spiral staircase. C13 doorway with decorative stone chamfer stops within first floor of gatehouse. Early C16 stone fireplace to former banqueting room in Gloriette. Formerly Cl7 stable fittings with arcaded wooden stalls within gatehouse range. Internal decoration of 1920s and later, including fittings brought from elsewhere: linenfold panelling to Gloriette staircase, mid C18 chimney- pieces, doorcases and panelling, chimneypiece of c. 1570 from Woodland Manor, Mere, and mid-C17 panielliiig friim Thorpe Hall, all in 1822 block. Owned c. 1114 to mid 1260s by de Crevecoeur family. Became Royal possession c. 1272/1278, forming part of Queen's dower. Granted to Sir Anthony St. Leger of Ulcombe 1552. Bought by Sir Thomas Colepepper from Smyth family 1632. (C. Wykeham Martin, The History and Description of Leeds Castle, Kent, 1869. S. Rigold, Leeds Castle, The Archaeological Journal, Vol. CXXVI, 1969. J. Newman, B.O.E., West Kent and the Weald, 1980). See also Barbicans [Item 2/1]. Listing NGR: TQ8367353281 (45)

Archive material (46)

<1> OS 6" Prov Edit 1961 (OS Card Reference). SKE48391.

<2> The Castles of Great Britain 1953 179-180 (S Toy) (OS Card Reference). SKE50259.

<2> Canterbury Archaeological Trust, 2007, An archaeological watching brief during groundworks associated with alterations to the gas supply within the gounds of Leeds Castle, Maidstone. (Unpublished document). SKE13540.

<3> F1 ASP 27-NOV-61 (OS Card Reference). SKE42319.

<4> DOE (HHR) Hollingbourne RD Kent Nov 1960 15-17 (OS Card Reference). SKE40569.

<5> Md Military Archit in Eng 2 1884 176-82 (G T Clark) (OS Card Reference). SKE46672.

<6> Arch J 126 1969 254-5 (S Rigold) (OS Card Reference). SKE36560.

<7> Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 1980 370-3 (N Pevsner & J Newman) (OS Card Reference). SKE37880.

<8> Hist of Kings Works 3 1975 261-2 (H M Colvin) (OS Card Reference). SKE44019.

<9> F2 MJF 18-MAR-86 (OS Card Reference). SKE43347.

<10> The History and Description of Leeds Castle, Kent, 1869 (C Wykeham Martin) (OS Card Reference). SKE50359.

<11> DOE (HHR) Borough of Maidstone Kent 18 December 1985 1-2 (OS Card Reference). SKE39919.

<12> The Antiquary 4 no 73 1873 39-41 103-105 (OS Card Reference). SKE49945.

<13> Country Life 80 1936 568 600 (OS Card Reference). SKE39453.

<14> Country Life 61 1927 290 photos (OS Card Reference). SKE39448.

<15> Country Life 1 1897 435-437 photos (OS Card Reference). SKE39372.

<16> Country Life 34 806-814 856-862 (OS Card Reference). SKE39428.

<17> Antiquities of England & Wales 2 1774 107-108 (F Grose) (OS Card Reference). SKE33284.

<18> A Saunter Through Kent 8 (C Iggleston) (OS Card Reference). SKE32900.

<19> Castles of England 1 1897 24 J D Mackenzie) (OS Card Reference). SKE38631.

<20> Antiquities of England & Wales 3 1787 58-63 (F Grose) (OS Card Reference). SKE33285.

<21> Engish Homes 1 201 (H A Tipping) (OS Card Reference). SKE41606.

<22> VCH 1 Kent 1908 432 (I C Gould) (OS Card Reference). SKE50804.

<23> Md Military Architecture inn Eng 1 1884 146 (G T Clark) (OS Card Reference). SKE46674.

<24> Domestic Architecture in Eng Edward I to Richard II 1853 284-285 (T H Turner) (OS Card Reference). SKE41484.

<25> The English Castle 1936 99 pl 90 (H Braun) (OS Card Reference). SKE50347.

<26> The History of the Kings Works 2 1963 695-702 (H M Colvin) (OS Card Reference). SKE50362.

<27> Arch Cant 42 1930 233 (OS Card Reference). SKE35112.

<28> Arch Cant 25 1902 xlix-liv (OS Card Reference). SKE34897.

<29> Arch Cant 15 1883 148-151 plan(W A Scott Robertson) (OS Card Reference). SKE34728.

<30> JBAA 12 1856 122 (H S Cuming) (OS Card Reference). SKE44866.

<31> JBAA 9 1854 286-295 (C W Martin) (OS Card Reference). SKE44998.

<32> Medieval Gardens 1981 106 (J Harvey) (OS Card Reference). SKE46861.

<33> Military Architecture in Eng during the Middle Ages 1912 326 (A H Thompson) (OS Card Reference). SKE47201.

<34> Arch J 82 1925 259 (OS Card Reference). SKE36689.

<35> Arch Cant 95 1979 296 (D Nash) (OS Card Reference). SKE36225.

<36> KAR 87 1987 167 (OS Card Reference). SKE45461.

<37> Field report for monument TQ 85 SW 4 - November, 1961 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4479.

<38> Field report for monument TQ 85 SW 4 - March, 1986 (Bibliographic reference). SKE4480.

<39> Victor Smith and Andrew Saunders, 2001, Kent's Defence Heritage (Unpublished document). SKE6956.

<40> OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPH LEEDS CASTLE C.1280 Types: CASTLE/MOAT (Photograph). SKE1319.

<41> Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit, 1998, Watching Brief Leeds Castle Park, Broomfield (Unpublished document). SKE7286.

<42> Not Given (Collection). SKE6562.

<43> LEEDS CASTLE AT BROOMFIELD FROM W. (Photograph). SKE1457.

<44> LEEDS CASTLE FROM S. (Photograph). SKE1462.

<45> English Heritage, List of Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic Interest (Map). SKE16160.

<46> Historic England, Archive material associated with Leeds Castle, Listed Building (Archive). SKE54230.

Sources and further reading

Related records

Related thematic articles

• Kent's Castles (Thematic Essay)