Images: Leeds castle from south, Leeds castle glorieta from north, “Maidens’ Tower” (photos: C.A. Stanford)
Acquired: 1509 (by inheritance)
Leeds castle was a royal property sited over two islands within the River Len. The second (and smaller) island construction is known as the Gloriette. The castle was kept under the constableship of Henry Guildford (until his death in 1532); a number of building projects are ascribed to his oversight, such as the so-called “Maiden’s Tower,” but few construction details survive from this early period. The castle was newly renovated, however, when Henry VIII visited Leeds castle in 1520 as he and his queen, Catherine of Aragon, stayed en route to their attendance at the spectacular “Cloth of Gold” diplomatic event with the king of France.
Rebuilding records are more detailed for the years after Henry’s divorce from Catherine (1535, 1543–4) when various repairs were carried out under the surveyorship of James Nedeham, including furnishings for the king’s “closet” (study) and expansions to his stables and privy (private) kitchen. The castle left Crown ownership under Edward VI, was rebuilt in the nineteenth century, and is now open to the public.