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Annual Dinner 2008 Leeds Castle Saturday 20th September "Wonderful in manifold glories are the great castle visions of Europe; Windsor from the Thames, Warwick or Ludlow from their riversides, Conway or Caernarvon from the sea, Amboise from the Loire, Aigues Mortes from the lagoons, Carcassonne, Coucy, Falaise and Château Gaillard - beautiful as they are and crowned with praise, are not comparable in beauty as with Leeds, behold among the waters on an autumnal evening when the bracken is golden and there is a faint blue mist among the trees - the loveliest castle, as thus beheld, in the whole world" LORD CONWAY We are delighted to announce that this year's CIArb South East Branch Annual Dinner will be held in the beautiful setting of the Gate House at Leeds Castle at 7.30 for 8pm on the evening of Saturday 20th September 2008 (dress code: Black Tie).
To provide a perfect end to the evening, Leeds Castle would also be able to provide us with a small number of bedrooms for members and guests wishing to stay overnight after the dinner. This is subject to a minimum booking of 10 rooms. The cost of overnight accommodation is just £85 for single occupancy and £100 for a double room, including full English breakfast on Sunday morning. Guests staying overnight will also have access to the Castle and its extensive gardens during the Sunday should they wish to stay and explore, making this exceptionally good value for anyone wishing to make this year's Annual Dinner into a truly delightful weekend occasion! Tickets for the dinner (including wine) cost £77.50. Places are strictly limited, and early booking is therefore essential if you would like to be part of this most special evening. If you would like to join your fellow members and their guests at this year's delightful Annual Dinner, please complete the booking form overleaf and return it as soon as possible to Helena Brown, Branch Chairman CIArb South East Branch, c/o MCMS Limited, 45 Tabernacle Street, London EC2A 4AA. |
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Set on
two islands on the River Len, seven miles east of Maidstone in the heart of
Kent, Leeds Castle has been home to royalty, lords and ladies for over 1000
years.
The Castle today is the result of over 900 years of
alterations and changes. As well as the Gate House where our dinner will be
held, the Castle has a Norman foundation, the Gloriette, built by Edward I and
updated in Henry VIII's times, a Tudor tower and a 19th century country house.
All of these were substantially refurbished during the 20th century by the last
private owner of the castle, Olive, Lady Baillie. The heiress to an American
fortune and the daughter of an English Lord, she bought the castle in 1926 and
embarked on a complete refurbishment using the finest French architects and
designers to create an elegant country residence. 
The
mediaeval Gate House is in one of the oldest parts of the castle and dates from
the 13th century. Built by Edward I to strengthen the castle's defences, it now
forms an impressive entrance to the Castle Island. At night, the massive oak
doors are locked, as they have been for the last 700 years, to keep the castle
and its guests safe and secure. Leeds Castle, and the Gate House in particular,
promise to provide us with a magical location for this year's Annual Dinner,
and we are delighted to be able to offer such an exquisite setting to our
members and their guests.