Leeds Castle
After we left Ightham Mote we decided to see if we could make it over to Leeds Castle before it closed.
There are 500 acres of ground and gardens so I was especially happy that I had my handicapped placard for parking fairly close. We made it up to the ticket counter in the gift shop and the woman there said the castle closed in about 20 minutes but we just had to walk quickly ….about a mile up the hill! Luckily she saw my cane and ushered us over to a train she held for us. We had the most hilariously bumpy, knocking back and forth ride up, up, and around the very winding path until we were dropped off and had to hustle it (Terry gently pulling me up as fast as I could walk) and we made it to the door with FIVE minutes to spare! Phew!
Take note of the baby in a pumpkin by the castle doors, the couple posing for wedding photos, and the portrait of the owner and her daughters.
In the 11th and 12th centuries Leeds was a Norman stronghold. (In 1086 it was called “Esledes”which is an old English word meaning hillside.) During this time it was was owned by Odo the Bishop of Bayeux, who was also the half-brother of William the Conqueror.
During the centuries leading up to today the castle was owned by King Edward (s) (1st and 2nd and later 3rd), Queen Margaret of France, Queen Isabella, King Richard the 2nd, Queen Anne of Bohemia, Lady Joan de Mohun and Sr. John Norbury, Queen Joan of Navarre, Queen Catherine de Valois, and King Henry the 8th!
It went from a Tudor Palace to a Jacobean House to a Georgian Mansion. In the 1920’s Lady Baillie and her daughters owned the castle. Lady Baillie died in 1974 and left the castle to the Leeds Castle Foundation which preserves the castle for all future generations to enjoy.
We were very impressed with the staff who let us tour the castle without one eye roll to show that we were cutting it close. They were gracious and knowledgeable and one staff member even took my/our photo outside the doors. You couldn’t really take a bad photo!
I decided to forgo the crazy train for the way back and since it was mostly downhill we took our time to enjoy the views too.
That evening we took ourselves over the the Vauxhall Inn for dinner. We chose it because it was close and had the best reviews. Welp…. The first two things I tried to order off the menu were sold out. So when I thought to play it safe and just order the fish and chips I got a rude surprise. It was …bar none…the WORST (we’ve) ever tasted. It was so overcooked that the fish was dry and chewy. In fact, I couldn’t even bite through the batter! I asked our waitress to take it away and she kindly took it off of the bill at least. Meanwhile, every time she came near she complained about her back and did odd stretches near our table.
I asked for dessert (because honestly, I just wanted something tasty) and when she brought over the tart it was just the opposite : It was so undercooked that the dough was white and stretchy. Ugh! That was my worst meal of the trip…ha ha.
One last story: that night I must have been extremely tired because when I got up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night I smashed my forehead and toe into the closed door. I almost passed out!