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Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

HER Number:TQ 85 SW 4
Type of record:Listed Building
Name:Leeds Castle

Summary

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.

Grid Reference:TQ 8364 5324
Map Sheet:TQ85SW
Parish:BROOMFIELD AND KINGSWOOD, MAIDSTONE, KENT

Monument Types

  • CASTLE (Medieval to Modern - 1278 AD? to 2050 AD?)
  • MOAT (Medieval to Modern - 1278 AD? to 2050 AD?)
Protected Status:Listed Building (I) NAR

Full description

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Sources and further reading

Cross-ref. Source description
---Photograph: OBLIQUE PHOTOGRAPH LEEDS CASTLE C.1280 Types: CASTLE/MOAT. 8353/0. Black and White. Negative.
---Photograph: LEEDS CASTLE AT BROOMFIELD FROM W.. OS61/F74/2. Black and White. Negative.
---Photograph: LEEDS CASTLE FROM S.. OS61/F76/8. Black and White. Negative.
---Collection: Not Given.
---Unpublished document: Kent Archaeological Rescue Unit. 1998. Watching Brief Leeds Castle Park, Broomfield.
<1>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. OS 6" Prov Edit 1961
<2>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. The Castles of Great Britain 1953 179-180 (S Toy)
<3>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. F1 ASP 27-NOV-61
<4>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. DOE (HHR) Hollingbourne RD Kent Nov 1960 15-17
<5>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Md Military Archit in Eng 2 1884 176-82 (G T Clark)
<6>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Arch J 126 1969 254-5 (S Rigold)
<7>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Bldgs of Eng W Kent & the Weald 1980 370-3 (N Pevsner & J Newman)
<8>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Hist of Kings Works 3 1975 261-2 (H M Colvin)
<9>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. F2 MJF 18-Mar-86
<10>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. The History and Description of Leeds Castle, Kent, 1869 (C Wykeham Martin)
<11>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. DOE (HHR) Borough of Maidstone Kent 18 December 1985 1-2
<12>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. The Antiquary 4 no 73 1873 39-41 103-105
<13>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Country Life 80 1936 568 600
<14>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Country Life 61 1927 290 photos
<15>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Country Life 1 1897 435-437 photos
<16>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Country Life 34 806-814 856-862
<17>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Antiquities of England & Wales 2 1774 107-108 (F Grose)
<18>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. A Saunter Through Kent 8 (C Iggleston)
<19>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Castles of England 1 1897 24 J D Mackenzie)
<20>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Antiquities of England & Wales 3 1787 58-63 (F Grose)
<21>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Engish Homes 1 201 (H A Tipping)
<22>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. VCH 1 Kent 1908 432 (I C Gould)
<23>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Md Military Architecture inn Eng 1 1884 146 (G T Clark)
<24>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Domestic Architecture in Eng Edward I to Richard II 1853 284-285 (T H Turner)
<25>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. The English Castle 1936 99 pl 90 (H Braun)
<26>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. The History of the Kings Works 2 1963 695-702 (H M Colvin)
<27>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Arch Cant 42 1930 233
<28>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Arch Cant 25 1902 xlix-liv
<29>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Arch Cant 15 1883 148-151 plan(W A Scott Robertson)
<30>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. JBAA 12 1856 122 (H S Cuming)
<31>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. JBAA 9 1854 286-295 (C W Martin)
<32>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Medieval Gardens 1981 106 (J Harvey)
<33>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Military Architecture in Eng during the Middle Ages 1912 326 (A H Thompson)
<34>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Arch J 82 1925 259
<35>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. Arch Cant 95 1979 296 (D Nash)
<36>Unpublished document: OS Card / NAR index entry. KAR 87 1987 167
<37>Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 85 SW 4 - November, 1961.
<38>Bibliographic reference: Field report for monument TQ 85 SW 4 - March, 1986.
<39>Unpublished document: Smith, V. C. and Saunder, A.. 2001. Kents Defence Heritage.

Related records

TQ 85 SW 82 Parent of: Leeds Castle Park (Listed Building)
TQ 85 SW 191Parent of: RUINS OF BARBICANS AND DAM AT LEEDS CASTLE (Listed Building)

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