Castle Leslie facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Castle Leslie |
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West front of the Castle
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| General information | |
| Architectural style | Scots Baronial |
| Town or city | Glaslough, County Monaghan |
| Country | Ireland |
| Construction started | 1870 |
| Completed | 1871 |
| Client | Sir John Leslie |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect | W.H. Lynn |
| Engineer | None |
Castle Leslie is a beautiful historic home in Ireland. It belongs to an Irish part of the Leslie family. You can find it on a large estate near Glaslough village. This village is in County Monaghan, about 11 miles (18 km) northeast of Monaghan town. The estate covers about 1,000 acres (4 square kilometers).
Castle Design
Castle Leslie was built in the Scottish Baronial style. This style often features towers, turrets, and strong stone walls. The famous firm of Lanyon, Lynn and Lanyon designed it in 1870. It was built for Sir John Leslie, 1st Baronet, who was a Member of Parliament (MP).
The castle stands where an older castle once was. However, this new castle was never meant for defense. It was built as a grand country home. The front of the house looks quite serious and plain. It was designed to hide the beautiful gardens from visitors as they arrived.
Behind the main house, you'll find lovely gardens. A Renaissance-style walkway, called a cloister, connects the main house to another part. This part has the Library and a Billiard Room. While the outside was designed by W.H. Lynn, the inside feels very Italian Renaissance. This shows the influence of Lanyon and Sir John Leslie himself.
Exploring the Estate
The Castle Leslie estate is huge, covering 1,000 acres (4 square kilometers). It has three lakes. The biggest one is called Glaslough, which means Green Lake in Irish. This lake shares its name with the nearby village.
To the north, you'll find Kilvey Lake. The third lake is Dream Lake, which has a crannóg. A crannóg is an old artificial island, often built in lakes for defense. The estate also has open park land, winding streams, and several forests.
The Leslie family still lives in the house today. Sir Jack Leslie (who passed away in 2016) returned to live at the castle when he was 78. Today, Samantha (Sammy) Leslie is the main owner. Other family members also help manage the estate through a family trust.
Famous Visitors and Events
Castle Leslie became famous in 2002. That's when Sir Paul McCartney married Heather Mills in the family church on the estate. After the wedding, there was a big party for 300 guests. The food was prepared by the executive chef, Noel McMeel.
Many famous people have visited Castle Leslie over the years. These include the Irish poet WB Yeats. The Irish statesman General Michael Collins also visited. Even Rolling Stones singer Sir Mick Jagger stayed there in 1966.
Other notable guests include British astronomer Sir Patrick Moore. Members of the Churchill family have also visited. This is because the Leslies have family ties with the Churchill family.
