Kent - Castles

Dover

Perched on a hill overlooking the town of Dover and the English channel, Dover Castle is magnificent.

Dover has long been strategically important, the English channel is at it's narrowest here, and there has been fortifications of some kind on the site since the Iron Age.

The castle has been kept intact through almost continuous use as some sort of military establishment since the Normans built the Keep in 1168 until the 1980s.  There is a huge amount to see and explore, including various exhibitions.

The secret of Dover castle was the miles of secret underground tunnels that lead under the famous white cliffs.  The first of these was constructed in the Middle Ages, they were extended during the Napoleonic wars, when up to 2000 men could be housed within them.   During W.W.II they were used as offices; here the evacuation of 338,000 British and French soldiers from beaches of Dunkirk was masterminded.  Churchill formulated the plans for the eventual invasion here, and there is a hidden balcony in the cliffs where he could look out to sea.  The tunnels, their offices and the underground hospital are fascinating to visit and one of the most memorable parts of our visit.

Leeds

This is a very picturesque castle, set partly on an island in it's own lake and partly on the land, surrounded by parks and gardens. The present castle dates from Norman times, although there was originally a Saxon Manor house here. Leeds became a royal palace in 1278 and among other historical figures it was the home of as many as six medieval queens of England.

It passed through many hands until 1926 when it was bought by the future Lady Baillie, who altered the interior of the castle and filled it with the treasures she had collected over the years. The Leeds Castle Foundation was created by her will, to maintain the castle and it's grounds. As well as the castle and gardens, there is a maze which leads into a fascinating grotto, and an aviary filled with exotic birds.

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