THE HISTORY OF KELLIE'S CASTLE

THE HISTORY OF KELLIE’S CASTLE

Hi guys, today I would like to write a historical story about Kellie’s Castle. Located in Ipoh. The building brings you back to a time and place in the past. Many of you have not know the details about the building. I know a lot of you guys known Kellie’s Castle as a haunted building, but some say it just a rumours. Now, let me explained what I have been research about Kellie’s Castle. I hope you guys don’t get bored reading this!

Kellie’s Castle was built by a Scottish planter named William Kellie Smith from a little town in Scotland. He built the building for his beloved wife and the building is a symbol of love. In 1890, a young Smith at the age of 20 left his home farm in Kellas for Malaya. Smith then partnership with Alma Baker and in these projects led to quite a bit of profits. Then, Smith started planting rubber trees and dabbled in the tin mining industry. In time, he became the owner of Kinta Kellas Estate and the Kinta Kellas Tin Gredging Company. Through various business ventures such as Planning Rubber Trees and the Tin Mining Industry, Smith’s wealth grew. In 1903, he returned to his hometown which is in Scotland to marry his sweetheart Agnes. He then brought her back to his home in Malaysia and later that year they was blessed with a daughter named Helen. He loved his daughter but he wanted a son to heir his empire. But then,  after eleven years of waiting, Agnes gave birth to a son named Anthony in 1915. In celebration, Smith began planning the construction of a huge castle named Kellie’s Castle.

Smith had a passion for the weird and wonderful. Kellie’s Castle combines several styles. Look closely and you guys can see Moorish, Indo-Saracenic and Roman influences. Because of his fascination of the Hindu religion and India, he incorporated much of the elements in to his home. Bricks and tiles were imported straight away from India. He even enlisted the help of 70indian workers from Madras of South India as skilled laborers for the construction of the mansion.

Unfortunately, he ran into major setting back. Many of the workers contracted the Spanish Flu and died in the early 1920s. William had a dream. He wanted the biggest and most opulent mansion in Malaya to spite the other snobbish bureaucrats who once doubted his wealth and ability in more desperate times. And he dreamed big. The mansion itself was several storey high with a huge planned tower, an indoor tennis court and even a rooftop entertainment complex to host parties. It almost had Malaya’s first-ever elevator. Almost. But William’s destiny wasn’t to be as once more his life turned on a dime. Poor investments dwindled his wealth and souring relationships with the other administrators made his future look bleak.

In the end, Kellie’s Castle was never completed. It is a sad truth to their family.

In December 1926, he contracted pneumonia and died at age of 56. Agnes later packed up and left Malaysia with her children back to Scotland. She sold the castle to a British company called Harrisons and Crossfield. His son Anthony was killed in World War II. Helen never returned to Kellie’s Castle. The only thing left at Kellie’s Castle was the covered walkway, an open courtyard and part of a crumbling wall. Kellie’s Castle has been refurbished and appears as if it has never been touched. It was even used as a setting in the 1999 film Anna and the King. For now, a company manages Kellie’s Castle as a tourist attraction.  Some believe it is haunted by the family it was built for.

Kellie’s Castle is shrouded in mystery. Three secret tunnels were discovered with more believed to be hidden. According to eyewitnesses, a car was parked inside one of the passageway in the 1960s. But nothing was ever found or verified as to who the car belonged to. Other rumours tell of the Japanese using the premises to torture and later execute prisoners. But we never know what is the truth behind these stories.

 Uhh I think the people who stay near the castle must be very scared! I had a goosebumps while writing this.

The next ghosts story is when a couple who visited to photograph nocturnal animals, reported to see ghostly figures in the window. Others say Smith’s spirit restlessly roams the second-floor corridor. Look carefully in his daughter’s room, and her spirit in a white blouse with curly hair might appear! Or just stand still in a quite room and get the sense of uneasiness. Is this just gossip and hype to drive tourism or is there something else going on at Kellie’s Castle? Nobody knows for sure.

What to do at Kellie’s Castle?

If you visit, you can explore the vast interior of the building, its room, wine cellar, elevator shaft and six-storey tower. Some of the rooms have been fitted with furniture so you get to see what they would have been like if the construction had been complete. From the rooftop, you also get a lovely view of the surrounding garden.

Moreover, It is a good place for history and architecture enthusiasts. And since the mansion is believed to be haunted, it will also appeal to those who get thrill from of the unknown. The castle interior and gardens are also goods for taking pre-wedding shoots so it might appeal to the couple and photography fans, too.

I am pretty upset because Smith can’t even finished his castle and died at a young age. I think Smith is a romantic person because he built this castle just to satisfied his beloved wife and his children. He dreamed big for the best of his own family. In my opinion his wife and their children should not run away from the castle and should have finished Smith work. Also we have to maintain the building to remind our next generation to appreciate the history.

I hope you guys enjoy my writing!