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Kellie Castle Malaysia is an unexpected gift
Germany is known for its majestic fairytale castles while France has more castles than any country could ever reasonably need. Comparatively, Malaysia is much lower.
However, there is one, alone at the top of a small hill, overlooking the Kinta River, about 20 minutes away from Ipoh.
Kellie Castle with huge household name well worth a visit. – Because of its history and curiosity. It is also a fascinating insight into one man's dream, the man whose madness is called …
William Kellie Smith was from the village of Kellas in Scotland. In 1890, at the age of 20 years, came to the then undeveloped Malaya, he met a farmer named Alma Baker, who had won awards from the state government to clear 360 hectares of forest in Perak.
With the substantial benefits of his business venture with Alma Baker William started planting rubber trees and ventured into the industry of tin mining. Over time, became the owner of Kinta Kellas Estate Kinta Kellas Tin and Dredging Company.
Now, with his fortune made, he returned home to marry his girlfriend in Scotland, Agnes, and brought to Malaysia 1903. The following year, the couple was blessed with a daughter whom they named Helena.
As happy as he was, William Smith desperately wanted a son and heir to take over his empire in the Malay islands. It was a dream that would take until 1915 to realize, when Agnes gave birth to baby Anthony.
To celebrate the birth of Anthony, William decided to extend his mansion – but simply an extension was not what I had in mind. Instead, William began to plan a huge castle that he intended to call Kellas House, after his hometown in Scotland.
Because of his fascination with the Hindu religion and Indian culture, Guillermo target was the house to share a similar architecture to those of Madras, with all its bricks and tiles imported from India. Even hired a group Big Indian workers to keep the house genuinely Kellas India.
But it was only the incredible cost of importing material and foreign labor that made the house so fascinating to the locals and travelers alike – was the extent of the ambition of William. For example, his was to be the first building in Malaysia to have a lift. There were also two tunnels designed to run on the nearby river – One of these tunnels connects to the Hindu temple some distance of the main house.
On the second floor, Smith planned to build an indoor tennis court – an ambitious project even by today's standards. On the floor higher, there is a rooftop patio for parties. This castle was to be the center of entertainment for the rich colonial planters who had settled in Malaysia and was so unique that was even mentioned in the London newspaper Financial September 15, 1911.
In the end, Kellas House, later known as Kellie Castle or Kellie's madness to some, was never completed. William Kellie Smith himself died of pneumonia in a short trip to Portugal in 1926, a trip that was done to collect their precious elevator manufacturer. His heartbroken wife decided to pack up and go home to Scotland selling the properties and Kellie's Castle to a British company Harrison and Crosfield call.
Today, close to the castle, you can not help but notice the influence of Victorian style, such as increased five red brick walls higher plants. No wonder that the castle is supposed to come with a lift.
Walking through the halls I was fascinated to see how William had built different types of architecture design. There are definitely European influences, such as large storage room bedding, a spacious cellar, bedrooms and square the tennis court! Then, a world away from Europe, have beautiful window frames in the design of the Moors, who sit with local touches Islam.
The other thing that is called space. At 1,200 square meters, William master bedroom is bigger than most apartments average today, but security was obviously a concern – William includes an escape route that leads out to a lovely garden.
It is unusual for a man who had the idea of being home the castle right up to the limit would not feel completely safe there. As for the structure as an outsider I felt the castle seemed to be – strong and secure enough to protect people inside. There is not even any glass windows on the ground floor, instead of William designed small holes in the top of the walls to create some natural ventilation.
I love to be able to ask him what he feared. Maybe one day – you William said that haunts the castle to date, and certainly the intention of returning. Maybe we collide.
About the Author
Richard Ryan is a professional journalist who has worked in the UK, Malaysia and Australia. For more information visit http://www.richardryan.co.uk