The alarm clock jangled us awake early for a weekend morning. The Man had been given entry tickets for Leeds Castle. With a bit of help from google we found out the opening times and how to get there. With our trusty packed lunch we hopped aboard a train to Victoria station then a South Eastern out to a stop called Beardstead. Nice to get out of the city and see come rural land. Lots of orchards, young rape seed fields clad in their fluorescent green livery, and some pretty large covered strawberry fields too. From Beardstead we took the bus, and very shortly rolled through the gates of Leeds Castle. It’s been here for about 900 years, and in that time it has been a Norman stronghold, belonged to six of England’s queens and more recently, under the ownership of the very wealthy Lady Baillie,it was the playground of some of societies rich and famous. These days it is owned by a charitable trust, bequeathed to it by the last owner, probably to avoid paying crippling death duties.
Good thing the grounds are more than 500 acres, because this Easter weekend the castle has a kids event going on. We learned later that more than 7000 visitors had walked through the gates.
Audio guides in hand we followed the prompts and worked out way around to the entry. This was the only time we were held up in a queue. The crowd control was pretty good, only allowing so many through at a time meant that we were able to make the most of viewing the interior rooms rather than having to fight a crush. One thing that really struck us was the displays of fine china and ornaments sitting unsecured on tiny wall brackets or over doors. But then this country doesn’t have earthquakes like we do at home.
After the interior tour we looked for a spot to sit and have our lunch. What better place than alongside the lake, looking over the water at the castle.
To be continued...
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