Leeds Castle, four miles west of Maidstone, Kent, England, dates back to 1119, though a manor house stood on the same site from the 9th century. The castle and grounds lie to the East of the village of Leeds, which should not be confused with the city of Leeds, almost two hundred miles to the north (many tourists make this mistake; allegedly, so did a pottery firm making souvenirs of the city of Leeds).
In 1321 King Edward II of England besieged the castle and used ballistas or springalds to force its defenders to surrender.
In 1395 King Richard II of England received the French chronicler Jean Froissart there, as Froissart described in his Chronicles.
The castle was used as the location for Castle d'Ascoigne in the movie Kind Hearts and Coronets (1949).
This castle and its grounds are now an important leisure destination in the county of Kent. The castle has an aviary , a golf course, and what may be the world's only museum of dog collars. It also plays host to an annual hot air balloon display.
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Last updated: 10-12-2005 09:09:57
