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Historic Towns & Picturesque Villages

Southsea Pier

Southsea

in the county of Hampshire

Gurnard Head from Zennor Head

Zennor

in the county of Cornwall

Haile Sand Fort, mouth for the River Humber off Humberston, Cleethorpes

Humberston

in the county of Lincolnshire

Pictures of Leeds

in the county of Kent

About Leeds

Under a cloudless sky, its moated waters glistening in the sunlight, Leeds Castle looks every inch the romantic place it was when given by Edward I to his wife Queen Eleanor, it became the Royal couple's favourite country retreat.

Leeds Castle, together with the Norman church dedicated to St.Nicholas have dominated this attractive village for centuries. Both have played a fundamental part in the lives of villagers, some of whom throughout the ages have depended upon Leeds Castle Estate for their livelihood. Lying amidst the beautiful countryside of the North Downs Way, the village shows a core of delightful houses and pretty cottages fronted by colourful, flower filled gardens. It is though and always will be, the historic castle that draws the endless flow of visitors who find their way to this precious corner of England.

The castle is frequently called 'the ladies castle' this is largely due to the fact that it has nearly always been owned by Royal women. It was claimed by Queen Isabella after the death of her husband, Edward II, she began living there in 1327. Richard II gave the castle to his Queen, Anne of Bohemia, and Joan of Navarre was given the castle by Henry IV when she became his Queen. Henry V's wife Catherine was the last Queen to own the castle outright.

Henry VIII made changes to the castle, and his daughter Princess Elizabeth was held prisoner in Leeds Castle before she became Queen. Following the Civil War in which the castle appears to have played no part, it slowly fell into a state of disrepair with little notice taken until the 19th-century when in 1822 it was purchased by Fiennes Wykeham-Martin, and it is he who developed the castle into the glorious historical treasure chest we see today.

The castle is now owned by the Leeds Castle Foundation Trust which was set up in 1974, and is open to the public on most days throughout the year.

The church of St.Nicholas has administered to the spiritual need of the village since Norman times, and maybe before. There is a theory that the church was built on the site of a large Augustinian Priory, certainly in 1879 evidence of two Saxon windows was uncovered together with stone walls under the floor of the Nave. The church possesses a quite spectacular tower, not tall but substantially stubby with walls of up to 8ft thick. Inside the church there are decorative columns, a beautifully restored rood screen dating from the 15th-century and impressive memorials to residents of the village who lost their lives during the two World Wars of the 20th-century. The church occupies a lovely hillside location, and in the peaceful tree-lined churchyard you can see tombs and graves from past centuries.

For a romantic day out and a trip into England's rich historic past you can do no better than visit the pastoral village of Leeds, which is a short distance from Maidstone and is within easy reach of the town of Ashford, and the Dover - Folkestone Heritage Coast.

Recommended towns & villages near Leeds

Aylesford Church from the old bridge. Kent

Aylesford (50 Pictures) a Picturesque Village in the county of Kent

(7.0 miles, 11.2 km, direction NW of Leeds)

Aylesford is a large village in Kent, 4 miles NW of the county town of Maidstone. It sits on the river Medway, and has many interesting and historic buildings including the 14th.....

Cranbrook Mill built in 1814 (Tallest smock mill in England) Cranbrook, Kent

Cranbrook (7 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of Kent

(10.9 miles, 17.5 km, direction S of Leeds)

Cranbrook is an old rural town of numerous streets and alleys, all still true to their medieval layout...

Marle Place Gardens, Brenchley, Kent - TN12 7HS

Brenchley (10 Pictures) in the county of Kent

(11.5 miles, 18.5 km, direction SW of Leeds)

Brenchley is a beautiful "showpiece" village full of picturesque Tudor cottages, complimented by houses from the Regency and Victorian periods...

Old Riley

Faversham (80 Pictures) a Historic Market Town in the county of Kent

(13.1 miles, 21.0 km, direction NE of Leeds)

There is record of settlements in the area in pre-historic times, it is known that the Romans and the Anglo-Saxons both established villages...

Isle of Sheppey Sailing Club, Sheerness

Sheerness (22 Pictures) in the county of Kent

(14.9 miles, 24.1 km, direction NE of Leeds)

This is the port to which Nelson's body was brought home following his untimely death after his glorious victory at the Battle of Trafalgar...

All towns & villages in Kent
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Nearby attractions..

Leeds Castle in Kent

Leeds Castle (333 Pictures)

(0.8 miles, 1.4 km)

Listed in the Domesday Book, this castle has been a Norman stronghold, a royal residence for six of England's medieval queens, a.....

Archbishops Palace, Maidstone, Kent.

Archbishops Palace (10 Pictures)

(4.2 miles, 6.8 km, direction W)

Lying in a gorgeous scenic location beside the River Medway is the ancient Palace belonging to the Archbishop's of Canterbury,.....

Sissinghurst Castle garden, Nr Cranbrook, Kent

Sissinghurst Castle Garden (189 Pictures)

(9.6 miles, 15.5 km, direction S)

It is entirely fitting that one of the loveliest gardens in the land can be found in a county renowned for its beauty and.....

Rochester Cathedral

Rochester Cathedral (104 Pictures)

(10.5 miles, 16.9 km, direction NW)

Rochester Cathedral is awesome in its beauty, matching this is an impressive history stretching back to when the cathedral was.....

Charles Dickens Chalet, Rochester, Kent

Charles Dickens Chalet (4 Pictures)

(10.7 miles, 17.2 km, direction NW)

Unfortunately due to its fragility, the Dickens Chalet is not open to the public although it can be viewed from outside. The.....

Number Three Slipway, Chatham Dockyard

Chatham Historic Dockyard (122 Pictures)

(10.8 miles, 17.4 km, direction N)

Set in a stunning 80-acre estate The Historic Dockyard Chatham will excite and entertain you - whatever your age! Explore the.....

Rochester Castle

Rochester Castle (88 Pictures)

(10.9 miles, 17.6 km, direction NW)

The impressive ruins of Rochester Castle at the side of the Medway River make up one of the most spectacular riverside views in.....


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