House and Helicopter

Leeds Castle was built in 1119 by Robert de Crevecoeur, replacing the Saxon manor of Esledes. King Edward 1 and his queen Eleanor of Castile took over the castle as a royal palace in 1278, and made various changes and improvements.

The castle has been involved in many disputes, including that between Edward 11 and the 1st Baron de Badlesmere, whose wife prevented Isabella of France, King Edward’s consort, from spending a night lodging there. The result was the siege of Leeds Castle by Edward 11 and Margaret de Badlesmere lodging in the Tower of London for a year. Her husband was beheaded and his head placed on a pole at Burgate in Canterbury...