Day Eleven 22nd July 2010 - Leeds Castle & Canterbury

Into the county of Kent today.  Our first stop is at Leeds Castle that dates back to 872 AD.  The castle is set in the most beautiful grounds and is built on two small islands in the middle of a lake.  It is a magnificent site as you approach it down through some beautiful gardens.  There is a good deal of history inside, but much of the castle is as Lady Baillie, the last occupant of the castle, left it. To see it as a home makes it all the more interesting. The furniture, ceramics and paintings are exquisite.

Leeds also has other attractions such as an aviary, dog collar museum (!) and the infamous maze.  All of us made it into the maze but some got out more quickly than others!  After a morning spent at this great castle (not actually in Leeds, Yorkshire but named after its original Saxon owner, Esledes) we had our lunch and then boarded the coaches for the ride to Canterbury.

The road to Canterbury follows the old Pilgrims' Way and we approach the city as the pilgrims would have done. It is not until we go through Christ Church Gate that we get to see the magnificent building in full.

We enter and slowly make our way to the site of Beckett's murder in 1170 by the 4 knights and then up to the place where his tomb was situated.  Henry VIII had the tomb dismantled in 1538 and today a single candle burns to mark its place.  In the stone work you can see the indentation made by the knees of countless pilgrims as they shuffled past the shrine.  It is worth exploring the crypt that has changed little over the centuries.  It is calm and helps you to think about all that has happened in this great building.  Out in the cloisters, dating from 1400, the ceiling is filled with emblems and caricatures carved by the masons.

After a look around the town it is time to get back on the coaches and return to Charterhouse.  A great day in the South East.