arrow-leftarrow-rightclose email Facebookinstagramlinkedin pinterestplussearch tripadvisortwitter
Support Us | Grow and develop | The Rateau Archive Digitisation Project

The Rateau Archive Digitisation Project

Funding from the Rochester Bridge Trust has enabled the digitisation of the Armand-Albert Rateau Archive, preserving this unique record of the Castle’s early 20th-century transformation.

ABOUT THE Rateau Archive Digitisation project

This project focuses on preserving and safeguarding a unique archive of plans, drawings, and photograph albums created by the French designer Armand-Albert Rateau during his work for Lady Baillie in the 1920s.

Through auditing, conservation, and digitisation, the work will ensure the archive’s long-term preservation while improving public access and supporting ongoing research into the Castle’s history.

This programme seeks to enhance public engagement by increasing awareness of the Castle’s charitable activities, conservation efforts, and its role for future generations.

Through a range of interpretive activities, community workshops, educational programs, and other features, the project aims to inspire visitors, foster greater understanding of heritage conservation, and create meaningful opportunities for community participation.

The initiative underscores Leeds Castle’s commitment to heritage preservation while actively involving and educating audiences about its cultural and charitable significance.

Stay tuned for more updates, information about the project, and how you can get involved with activities.

We would like to thank our funders

We would like to thank the Rochester Bridge Trust for their generous grant which made this project possible.

There has been a bridge over the River Medway at Rochester since the Roman times, and in 1399, the Rochester Bridge Trust was established to ensure this strategic crossing would be maintained in perpetuity. Charles Wykeham-Martin served as a Trustee of the Rochester Bridge Trust between 1845 and 1870, during his ownership of Leeds Castle. Today, the Trust provides grants for a range of projects, including heritage restoration, the advancement of engineering research and STEM learning within schools. Please visit the Trust’s website to find out more.