History

Leys Castle stands about three miles from Inverness and was built for Col. John Baillie, MP, to a Samuel Beazley design in 1833. 

As a 19th century eclectic architect and playwright, Samuel was the son of an army equipment maker from Westminster. He received his architectural training from his uncle, Charles Beazley.

Other than writing, he is most noted for designs of theatres in and around London as well as abroad. He designed several other works in Ireland, the Isle of Wight, Scotland and England.

Later in his career he took up a post as architect to the South-Eastern Railway Company for which he designed stations, hotels and even a new town for its employees.

Born in 1786, in Parliament Street, Westminster, he died in 1851 at his country home, Tonbridge Castle, in Kent.