TQ 838531. The Post-Medieval park surrounding Leeds Castle is a landscape park developed from an earlier deer park and landscape park, (see TQ85SW82)Much of the modern park owes its character to a mid-C20th golf course development. Major landscaping had been undertaken in the 1770's by Capability Brown, although the extent of this is unknown. Russell Page was employed to develop the park from 1935 onwards, and it was he who designed the Great Water to the West of the moat utilising the R.Len, and ca.1980 the Culpeper Garden, a formal garden South of the stables. Lady Baillie designed the Azalea/rhododendron garden West of the moat, and the Wood Garden beyond the northern ponds. (1)

The park was landscaped during the early 18th century. In 1771-2 Lancelot Brown was working at neighbouring Leeds Abbey but there is no evidence for him involved with Leeds Castle. The park was restored and improved between 1822 and 1825. The ornamental gardens were planted from the 1920s by Lady Baillie. Further designs were created by Russell Page from the 1930s. Later schemes include designs by Francois Goffinet in the late 1980s. (2)

<1> C.C. Taylor, 1996, Leeds Castle Park: report of archaeological field visit on 19/07/1996 (Unpublished document). SKE58527.

<2> English Heritage Register of Parks and Gardens of special historic interest, Part 24 Kent(May 1987) (OS Card Reference). SKE41619.