Leeds Castle, Rochester Cathedral & Ramsgate Tunnels, Kent, England, February 2024

Leeds Castle

Monday, 12th February 2024

At the entrance to the Leeds Castle grounds with the Visitor Centre and cafe in view. The castle is located 7 miles (11 km) south-east of Maidstone in Kent, England.
At the entrance to the Leeds Castle grounds with the Visitor Centre and cafe in view. The castle is located 7 miles (11 km) south-east of Maidstone in Kent, England.
Tony and Tatiana stood by the Great Water at Leeds Castle. This lake has been created on the course on the River Len. It is surrounded by a park landscape of grass and mature trees. The River Len also feeds the adjoining moat that surrounds Leeds Castle itself.
Tony and Tatiana stood by the Great Water at Leeds Castle. This lake has been created on the course on the River Len. It is surrounded by a park landscape of grass and mature trees. The River Len also feeds the adjoining moat that surrounds Leeds Castle itself.
Another pleasant view of the Great Water at Leeds Castle. Swans, geese and other birds can be distantly seen on and around the lake.
Another pleasant view of the Great Water at Leeds Castle. Swans, geese and other birds can be distantly seen on and around the lake.
Tony and Tatiana with Leeds Castle in the background. The present castle mostly dates from the early 19th century when it was remodelled in a Tudor style. The stone building includes defensive architectural features such as turrets and crenellations along the roof. It is mostly two storeys in height, although a central tower and the turrets at the corners extend higher. The castle is on an island in the middle of a lake or moat.
Tony and Tatiana with Leeds Castle in the background. The present castle mostly dates from the early 19th century when it was remodelled in a Tudor style. The stone building includes defensive architectural features such as turrets and crenellations along the roof. It is mostly two storeys in height, although a central tower and the turrets at the corners extend higher. The castle is on an island in the middle of a lake or moat.

The first defensive structure to exist on this site is believed to have been built by a Saxon chief called Led or Leed in AD 857. This wooden structure was built on two islands in the middle of the River Len. The first stone castle was built by Norman nobleman Robert de Crevecoeur in 1119. In 1278 the castle became a royal residence when it was acquired by King Edward I’s Queen, Eleanor of Castile. King Edward enhanced the defences and probably created the lake that surrounds the castle today. A barbican spanning three islands was also built and a gloriette with apartments for the King and Queen was added. King Henry VIII later transformed the castle in 1519 for his first wife, Catherine of Aragon.

In 1552 Leeds Castle was granted to Sir Anthony St Leger of Ulcombe, Kent, and over the proceeding centuries it passed through several owners. The castle avoided destruction during the English Civil War due to its then owner, Sir Cheney Culpeper, siding with the Parliamentarians. The last private owner was the Hon. Olive, Lady Baillie, an Anglo-American heiress, who bought the castle in 1924.

The estate was opened to visitors in 1975 and is today owned by a charitable trust. The castle has been Grade I listed since 1952.

Tatiana and Tony outside a doorway into Leeds Castle. It is a large wooden doorway with a stone surround.
Tatiana and Tony outside a doorway into Leeds Castle. It is a large wooden doorway with a stone surround.
Tony and Tatiana in the formal Dining Room at Leeds Castle. There is a very long table in the middle of the room. This room was decorated by Lady Baillie and her designer Stephane Boudin in 1938. It includes 18th century tapestries and Chinese porcelain.
Tony and Tatiana in the formal Dining Room at Leeds Castle. There is a very long table in the middle of the room. This room was decorated by Lady Baillie and her designer Stephane Boudin in 1938. It includes 18th century tapestries and Chinese porcelain.
Another view inside the Dining Room at Leeds Castle with Tony and Tatiana in the foreground.
Another view inside the Dining Room at Leeds Castle with Tony and Tatiana in the foreground.

Rochester Cathedral, Rochester

Tuesday, 13th February 2024

Tony and Tatiana inside Rochester Cathedral. Behind is a view across the nave. Rows of large stone columns supporting Norman arches run along the side aisles. There is a central aisle in the middle with rows of chairs at either side.
Tony and Tatiana inside Rochester Cathedral. Behind is a view across the nave. Rows of large stone columns supporting Norman arches run along the side aisles. There is a central aisle in the middle with rows of chairs at either side.

Rochester Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of Christ and the Blessed Virgin Mary, is England’s second oldest Cathedral founded by St Justus in AD 604. It was originally known as the Priory of St Andrew. Construction of the present cathedral began in 1083 overseen by Gundulf, who was the cathedral’s first Norman bishop, and it was completed in 1238. Later alterations were made including the insertion of Perpendicular Gothic windows along the nave in the mid-15th century. Today the cathedral is Grade I listed and includes Norman Romanesque and Gothic architectural styles.

Tony next to a large 18th century tomb in the south nave aisle of Rochester Cathedral. This tomb is dedicated to Dame Ann Henniker who died in 1792. She was the wife of Lord John Henniker, a wealthy merchant and politician, who erected this grand memorial in his wife's memory. The tomb is topped by two statues that personify truth and time. Only the statue depicting time is visible in the photo: it is in the form of a male winged figure who is holding a hourglass and scythe. The tomb is made of marble while the statues on top are made of Coade stone, which is an artificial stone invented by businesswoman Eleanor Coade around 1770.
Tony next to a large 18th century tomb in the south nave aisle of Rochester Cathedral. This tomb is dedicated to Dame Ann Henniker who died in 1792. She was the wife of Lord John Henniker, a wealthy merchant and politician, who erected this grand memorial in his wife’s memory. The tomb is topped by two statues that personify truth and time. Only the statue depicting time is visible in the photo: it is in the form of a male winged figure who is holding a hourglass and scythe. The tomb is made of marble while the statues on top are made of Coade stone, which is an artificial stone invented by businesswoman Eleanor Coade around 1770.
A view of the lower part of the tomb dedicated to Dame Ann Henniker. There is a lengthy inscription written on the front, which is only partially visible in the photo.
A view of the lower part of the tomb dedicated to Dame Ann Henniker. There is a lengthy inscription written on the front, which is only partially visible in the photo.
Tony and Tatiana with a woman, possibly a guide, in the Lady Chapel of Rochester Cathedral. The current Lady Chapel dates from around 1490. The chapel contains stained glass windows depicting the Gospel, but these are not visible in the photo. The photo shows the entrance into the chapel from the south aisle of the nave and two gravestones embedded into the floor. The nearest gravestone, dedicated to Frederick Hill, who died in 1729, includes an oval relief carving depicting the Good Samaritan.
Tony and Tatiana with a woman, possibly a guide, in the Lady Chapel of Rochester Cathedral. The current Lady Chapel dates from around 1490. The chapel contains stained glass windows depicting the Gospel, but these are not visible in the photo. The photo shows the entrance into the chapel from the south aisle of the nave and two gravestones embedded into the floor. The nearest gravestone, dedicated to Frederick Hill, who died in 1729, includes an oval relief carving depicting the Good Samaritan.

Ramsgate Tunnels, Ramsgate

Thursday, 15th February 2024

Inside Ramsgate Tunnels, an underground network of tunnels that include a former Victorian railway tunnel and a purpose-built Second World War air raid shelter. Today some of the tunnels are open as a tourist attraction accessed from the East Cliff at Ramsgate. The photo shows a narrow brick-lined tunnel with disused narrow gauge railway track laid on the ground. The tunnel quickly disappears into darkness and appears to be at least partially blocked ahead. The first tunnel built here was a mainline railway tunnel that connected Broadstairs with a station at Ramsgate Harbour. This tunnel opened in 1863 and closed in 1926. The tunnel was subsequently reopened as a narrow gauge railway in 1936, mostly aimed at tourists wishing to access the shops and attractions in Ramsgate. The narrow gauge railway closed in 1965 due to falling passenger numbers and a train crash. The tunnel was then sealed up until its reopening as Ramsgate Tunnels in 2014.
Inside Ramsgate Tunnels, an underground network of tunnels that include a former Victorian railway tunnel and a purpose-built Second World War air raid shelter. Today some of the tunnels are open as a tourist attraction accessed from the East Cliff at Ramsgate. The photo shows a narrow brick-lined tunnel with disused narrow gauge railway track laid on the ground. The tunnel quickly disappears into darkness and appears to be at least partially blocked ahead. The first tunnel built here was a mainline railway tunnel that connected Broadstairs with a station at Ramsgate Harbour. This tunnel opened in 1863 and closed in 1926. The tunnel was subsequently reopened as a narrow gauge railway in 1936, mostly aimed at tourists wishing to access the shops and attractions in Ramsgate. The narrow gauge railway closed in 1965 due to falling passenger numbers and a train crash. The tunnel was then sealed up until its reopening as Ramsgate Tunnels in 2014.
Tony and Tatiana inside Ramsgate Tunnels tourist attraction. A tunnel cut into the rock can be seen lit-up behind them before disappearing out of view. In 1939 a 3.25 mile (5.2 km) semi-circular network of tunnels was created here to serve as an air-raid shelter. The shelter could hold 60,000 people, more than Ramsgate's total civilian population at that time. The town was identified as a likely target for heavy German bombing due to it being a large port in a strategic position at the end of the English Channel and close to the Thames Estuary.
Tony and Tatiana inside Ramsgate Tunnels tourist attraction. A tunnel cut into the rock can be seen lit-up behind them before disappearing out of view. In 1939 a 3.25 mile (5.2 km) semi-circular network of tunnels was created here to serve as an air-raid shelter. The shelter could hold 60,000 people, more than Ramsgate’s total civilian population at that time. The town was identified as a likely target for heavy German bombing due to it being a large port in a strategic position at the end of the English Channel and close to the Thames Estuary.