Located a few miles SE from Maidstone, Leeds Castle is surrounded by a man-made lake formed by damming the River Len. Leeds Castle sits on 2 separate islands accessed by arched stone bridges -- one from the mainland to the gatehouse, the second from the larger island to the smaller at the N end of the site. The lake at one time acted as a moat for the once-fortified castle. Remnants of turrets and enceintes have been removed except on the E side where they are shaved down but are still visible. On the main island 3 buildings from 3 different eras remain: the late Norman gatehouse, the mid-16th c. Maiden's Tower; and the early 19th c. 2-storey main castle built in neo-Gothic style on the site of a substantial medieval block by Fiennes Wykeham Martin (the cellars, however, are likely late Norman). 'In Edwardian days it is evident that what may be called the Palace buildings with the great hall, the kitchen and the larger chapel, were situated at the north end of the main island. The kitchen adjoined the bridge of the Gloriette...' (Conway, 'Leeds Castle--I' 814). The 2-storey Gloriette, located on the smaller island, appears to rise straight from the water and may rest on the foundations of the original Norman keep. The lower level was built in the late 12th c. but the upper storey was constructed in the early 16th c. for Henry VIII by Sir Henry Guildford, who commissioned the impressive bay windows on the W side to provide light to the king's private banqueting hall on the ground level and the queen's bedroom on the upper storey.