Viewing the magnificent castle from the bank of the river shows the castle etched against clear blue sky. The uniqueness of this castle is evident in its design and its interior which includes a shaft for an elevator, wine cellar and a few tunnels. One of the tunnels runs under the river and is said to connect the castle to a nearby Hindu temple. The tunnels have long been sealed never to be explored.
Kellie Castle Front View |
The long empty veranda's of the castle with intricate designs on the walls, numerous spiral staircases and huge arches add grandeur to the castle. When one passes the wine cellar, the cold air can be felt and gives rise to a feeling of eeriness. From the rooftop, which is supposed to be a courtyard, the unobstructed view , of hectares of palm oil plantations surrounding the area, meets the eye. Kellie’s former rubber estate, Kinta Kellas, which he named after his own hometown in Scotland, is located nearby and still exists to this day.
The corridor inside Kellie Castle. |
There is a chamber for wine storage that were build and still kept remain inside the Kellie Castle it is called 'Wine Cellar'. The wine cellar were hand made by the Indian craftsman with woods which is imported from India.
Inside the building, there were few secret chambers hidden in the ground. The stairs were created to connected the building with the secret chambers. however, it can't be entered due to the structure of the stairs isn't strong.
Roof top of Kellie Castle |
While in the second floor, William actually planned to build an indoor tennis court. In addition Kellie castle not only serves William's family member only, it also functions like a hotel providing shelter/place to stay for William's business partner or something- a hub for entertaining wealthy colonial foreigners settled in Malaya.
Besides that, Kellie castle is also restored due to its unique design which was even published in London Financier Newspaper on 15th September 1911. It is impossible to find or produced another exactly the same piece of this architecture again. This is as most of the construction material are imported from India. Moreover, it is impossible to have the same workmanship as the Indian laborers that William hired to worked for him at that time.
Also it is believed that this building is the first in Malaya to contain elevator which runs up to the top floor. This kind of memory and meaningful history which had been created in this castle cannot be recreated again in similar manner. Hence, it is important and wise to preserve it carefully.
The living hall |
The kitchen |
The first 'Kellas House" |
The right corner of Kellie Castle |
Reference
- http://kelliescastles.blogspot.com/2009/03/kellies-castle-history.html
- http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/kellie-s-castle-brought-to-life-1.315190
- http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/style/spooky-stories-1.125065http://www.ipoh-city.com/attraction/Kellies_Castle/
- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kellie's_Castle
- http://telukansonchildhood.blogspot.com/2008/05/kellies-castle-or-kellas-house.html
- http://simplesimplejoy.blogspot.com/
- http://www.nst.com.my/nation/general/kellie-s-castle-brought-to-life-1.315190
- http://www.propertynet.my/colonial-style-make-over-for-kellies-castle/
- http://www.mynicegarden.com/2013/07/kellies-castle-part-2-story-of-william.htm
- http://perak.attractionsinmalaysia.com/Kellie-Castle.php.
- http://bettyandlingshing.blogspot.com/2012/12/kellie-castle.html/
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