Thursday 24th July 2008

Day Eleven - Leeds Castle, Canterbury

Down to Kent today and our first stop is the beautiful castle of Leeds (named after Esledes in the 8th century).  Leeds is often referred to as the 'loveliest castle in the world' and today with a sun filled sky it is hard to dispute this.  The castle was most recently the home of Lady Olive Baillie who died in the 1970s and the castle reflects her ownership with its magnificent interiors.  Highlights being the ebony floor of the long gallery, Tudor paintings, the furniture and the private rooms of Lady Baillie.  It is so well positioned that through every window you can see a fantastic view across the lake that surrounds the castle . Outside the castle you can wander up to the aviary that was established in Lady Baillie's time and became her passion as many of the paintings and sculptures in the castle depict.   The grounds also boast a maze and it is always an ISCA challenge to see who can get through the maze in the shortest time.  Once in the centre of the maze you exit underground through a charming shell-lined grotto.  There are the acres of gardens and a quirky museum devoted to dog collars!  We spend the morning looking at all the castle has to offer before returning to have some lunch in the picnic area.

After food we get back on the coaches and drive to Canterbury, following the route the pilgrims would have taken back in the Middle Ages as they journeyed to see Beckett's tomb in Canterbury Cathedral.  In Canterbury we walk to the cathedral and enter one of the great religious buildings of England's history.   One of the highlights is seeing the spot where Beckett was martyred and the place where his tomb would have stood until Henry VIII ordered it to be pulled down.  There are so many wonderful things to look at in this building that dates from the 11th century.  The tombs of Edward, the Black Prince and Henry IV and his wife Joan of Navarre are important finds as well as venturing out to look at the cloisters and the parts of the old monastery that still survive.  We get to spend some time in the town and then make our way to Christ Church Gate to meet and begin our journey home.  Like the thousands of pilgrims before us we feel contentment as we leave the city behind.