Sep 20 2009
Kellie’s Castle
Kellie’s Castle is not exactly in Ipoh but it’s probably the one and only historical place nearby.
The castle belonged to the late William Kellie Smith. It’s located rather out of place – in his rubber plantation, in Batu Gajah along Gopeng Road.
It has 14 rooms and a tall tower, tall enough to have a panoramic view of Ipoh town. Okay that phrase is from the brochure – I was up at the highest floor and saw nothing close to Ipoh town. More like a jungle out there.
The design displayed many Islamic architectural features.
If it had been completed, the castle would have been the first building in Malaysia to have the first imported lift.
Skilled artisans and construction workers were imported from India to work on this project. However, it was delayed due to an epidemic that hit the workers.
The construction then halted in 1926 when William Kellie Smith died in Lisbon.
His wife, Agnes Smith relinquished all her interest and the plantations were managed by several local companies.
The unfinished castle was therefore abandoned.
Right behind the castle was Kellie’s first house named as “Kellas House”. It was built in 1905 where he stayed with his family, before deciding to build a castle in front.
The house was partially destroyed during the World War 2. But it’s more of a preserved wreck now.
Although Kellie’s Castle has been there over the years, much of the structure is still intact.
The amazing thing about this castle is that Kellie planned to build an indoor tennis court and a rooftop courtyard for parties. The tower’s rooftop is damn high you know – I was kinda nervous when I was up there.
Anyway, some local said that the spirits of William Kellie, or a little girl that resembles his daughter, still wanders along the corridors.
This is the so-called “haunted corridor”. Boo!
As you walk inside the castle, you’ll see signs exclaiming “No Obscene Act” and “No vandalism”. However, some visitors tend to be a little over expressive during their visit.
So yeah, may Kellie haunt bless you two, Deanna and Dennis.
hey ya!! gahaha.. this kellies castle.. when i’m young my daddie sesat jalan when finding for it.. end up din go.. hahah..thanks for the info btw..the sejarah n stuff.. hahaha
u should add something too u know. Like putting ur URL down. Who knows, u might get blog traffics from other world.
Entah-entah Deanna and Dennis “got it on” at the castle.
ok, i’m gonna bring my coursemates there on monday but i’m not so sure about the direction though…hmm…
been there few years ago..
haha.. i saw ppl kissing there.. at some hidden corder..
hahahha.. they were HUMAN… =.=”
This is the first time viewing Kellie’s Castle! I didn’t know it is even in Ipoh! How ignorance huh! :D
If I reach there I think I’m going to write … visit my blog pls, feel free to click the ads ya > http://jejaktrend.blogspot.com
hahaha !!
Never heard.. of this place in my life. Haha.
Must pay a visit there soon, but first thing’s first.. has anyone seen this ghost before?
Maybe others, not me. =P
Lives in Ipoh, but never been to this place. =(
aiyoooooooo i didnt know we have this kind of castle in msia….thanks for the info and will definitely visit next time :)
Heard of it but never been to. Really got Ghost?
Maybe?
I’ve always hear bout Kellie’s Castle. I would love to visit the place one day.
Cool castle !! ^^
Haunted eh ??
heard of this castle when i was younger but never been there. looks nice. =P
Hey, did you go to the pitch dark underground wine cellar? that’s even scarier!
i will be going to ipoh soon…wish i would have time to visit this castle =p
hah, when i read “It has 14 rooms and a tall tower, tall enough to have a panoramic view of Ipoh town.” i was like.. huh?so impossible… i find many perak tourism brochures and travel guides not accurate wan… not updated sumore
This castle is so famous which I heard a lot about it from many of my friends.
They may feel ‘high’ for having a party on the HIGH rooftop. Haha…
Haha!! so what about u? did u leave behind some signatures there? ;-)
the roof is fixed by a production house to be used as a helicopter pad for a movie….i forgot the name of the movie, the main actor is aaron kwok
haha..i rmb got 1 midnite i wit my frens ntg to do n too boring..all went to kellies’s castle for fun..we climbed inside cos it’s midnight(around 12.15) wen i reached there..lingered aroung inside for 1 n half hours..it’s reli exciting..XD..unfortunately..it ended with patrol police waiting for us at the entrance of the castle..haha..copied our IC numbers..then makan liao RM200~ (the ticket reli expensive)
OHMYGOSH HOW COULD YOU NOT BLOG ABOUT THE DEER!?!?!?
Aaah, I love Kellie’s castle for the deer, seriouslyyy!
Ahha, I lived in Ipoh also, yknowww. :)
For.. hmm..
4 years.
it’s a nice historical place..
the bricks look simply nice. his dotta is helen.
Hello! =D This name sounds familiar haha. I think you can find it in our primary school textbooks.
hi Ken, thanks for putting up the pics of Kellie castle, i never been there before.. i tot it was not open up for tourists, yes, heard that it is haunted… hahaha.. from the pics u took, it looks very clean and well taken care of…
So you didn’t see any ghosts there? I would go there if you can confirm it’s haunted. Hehe
it IS haunted….
So that’s place got haunted mou?
go there at nite to find out and make sure bring some camera and snap some few picture. might snap “something”. mua ha ha
The castle is very nice. Didn’t we had such castles back in Malaysia.
Nice pictures, Ken. The place sure looks cleaned up and pleasant looking. Yeah, I heard there are spirits there. In fact, all old and unoccupied buildings do have “occupants”.
“So yeah, may Kellie haunt bless you two, Deanna and Dennis.”
I love this! Hahahaha
My uncle even went there to stay for one night. Nothing happened.
My bf’s ex snap group pictures and one of it got “something” in the picture.
Uik? You didn’t snap the tree picture?? With a bear look one..
No, I didn’t. Think it isn’t that relevant. =P
I didn’t know the existence of this place. It looks nice though. Did they really see William Kellie or the girl at the corridor? Wow!!! That’s interesting!!! Maybe you should capture more pictures of the corridor. Who knows? You might capture something more than an empty corridor!!!
wau! i find kenwooi always travel around… rich people .. xD nice picture and nice post :)
heard of the place couple of years ago from my dad… telling me stories bout the castle told by the elders…
sounds spooky to me~
you got to bring me there one day!
omg can you believe that im so JAKUN?
i thought you went oversea when i saw the 1st pic!
ahaha
thanks for visitng.. love your blog because orange is my latest favorite color.. i have a hard time clicking on your site so i can follow it.. :( have a great day
I guess Ipoh’s railway station qualifies as a historical place too…
I seen some of castle in the papers, but never pay attention to it. Will mark it inside my place to visit, if I am in Ipoh.
I’ve heard bout this place too but I’ve never been there eventhough I was residing in sitiawan for sooo many years! takut lah..
Didn’t know there’s such castle the last time I went to Ipoh :S
Yo kenwooi, I’m real happy for you and all and Imma let you finish, but Bowser’s Castle is one of the most famous castle of ALL TIME!
there’ll be people who lacks attention or wanting to show their boldness esp when nobody’s ard in scribbling those words
why didn’t you put that scary face of urs in there, hahahaha
That’s a lovely place and great architecture.
there’s a castle?! never knew! time to explore ipoh!
so sad. a family that had everything but then lost everything soon after. nice entry
nice pics. d place doesnt look like in Malaysia. lol
messilegend
LOL! I wanted to much to visit Kellie’s Castle!
Wow! I have never visited a castle before except for those seen on movies. When I drop by Malaysia in future, I may pay a visit there:)
I hope the authority don’t rename it to something “local”!
Hi Ken, Wow! Is that Kelly’s castle? Holy Smoke!
I used to pass by, one and off stop to take a look back in the late 60’s and early 70’s…it was just covered with jungle foliage.
And snakes galore!
I used to go cut bamboo there too…..
Used to travel extensively that area, to Batu Gajah, Telok Anson, Pantai Remis, and love the udang galas there…..
used to fish there too, bring home easy more than 30 every trip.
Guess Ipoh has changed a lot now.
Must return to check it out one day. Lee.
yup i know that it’s near ipoh..as in, which exit to turn out and all..hehe..
Hi! Nice to meet you, online. LOL Do I know you ar? Lol It’s just some girl. Actually it’s just a few girls who’s in love with my bf. Or so I think. LOL
LOL @ the double D!
hi ken, thanks for visiting my site!! nice one you have here. :)
been there few years ago, nice place. Is it really haunted???
wow!! Feel so nice after seeing Kellie’s castle still has her charm to attract visitors there (i am half Batu Gajah people)
It isn’t in Ipoh.. It is located along the way from Gopeng to Batu Gajah.
kenwooi, did u see the ‘Bear like’ tree?
Yeah I did! =)
I saw this Kellies castle in our local architectural magazine.
It’s the cover shot! I love any single details of it:)
Great historical place too:)
I like the fourth photo the most!
Declaring love in a hounted palace? *shivers*
Phewwww, i am going to visit the castle soon. Nice photo.
LOL vandalism. haha, the corridor is creepy. it gives people the eerie feeling. eep
Hmm.. It this coincidence? Another blogger friend went to Kellie’s Castle and also to Foh San… hmm…
Now I wonder… Did you both plan this together? :o
I always wanted to visit Kellie’s Castle. I heard if you are lucky, you can still see her. Hmm..
Who knows :P lovely pictures!
i shoudl go to kellie’s castle one day!
Been there a few year back…
I heard it’s still haunted! :D
waliao this haunted place so scary….go there once nia yerrr….when evening come is so haunted
ken… who’s kelly actually?
Haha, i think Farenova must back to school to know who is Kelly… :)
so, basically… there’s nothin inside the castle ? @.@ nt scary meh ?
Nice Topic, I loved it , it gave me laughter for it! ^_^