Kellie's Castle

Many know the love story attached to the Taj Mahal. But how many of you know the story of a Scottish man named William Kellie Smith and his beloved wife Agnes? In 1890, a young Smith left his home farm in Kellas for Malaya. It is not known why he ventured to Malaya for career opportunities much less when he actually arrived. However, he integrated in to the community with ease. He bounced around several business opportunities finding some success but it wasn't until he me Alma Baker that he struck gold. Baker obtained several government projects to built roads in South Perak. Their partnership in these projects led to quite a bit of profits. Enough to purchase a 900 acre piece of land for his rubber tree plantation and homely estate named Kinta Kellas in Batu Gajah.

Through various business ventures, Smith's wealth grew. In 1903, he returned to Scotland to marry his sweetheart Agnes. He brought her back to his home in Malaysia and later that year the couple was blessed with a daughter named Helen. He loved his daughter but wanted a son, an heir to his empire. Poor Agnes found it hard to conceive a second child. It was another eleven years before she became pregnant again. In 1915, Agnes gave birth to a son named Anthony. In celebration, Smith began planning the construction of a huge castle. Because of his fascination of the Hindu religion and India, he incorporated much of the elements in to his new home. Bricks and tiles were imported from India. He even enlisted the help of Indian workers to build it.

It was to take 10 years to build Kellie's Castle. However, he ran in to one major set back. Many of the workers contracted the Spanish Flu and died in the early 1920s. A temple was built 1500 m from the castle for the deity Mariamman. Some say it was to protect those who lived on the property. Others say Kellie had it built as a way to thank Mariamman for granting his wish to have a son. Either way the temple still stands and many continue to worship in it. The first elevator in Malaysia is located in Kellie's Castle. It travels from the roof down to the underground tunnels. He also planned to build a indoor tennis court. The rooftop was reserved for a courtyard for parties. World War I slowed the process even more. In the end, Kellie's Castle was never completed.

Smith took a short trip to Britain in 1926 supposedly with his daughter. It's unknown why he made a detour to Lisbon, Portugal (some believe it was to pick up a lift for his new manor). In December of 1926, he contracted pneumonia and died. 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. Anthony Kellie Smith was killed in World War II. Helen never returned to Kellie's Castle. The only thing left of the first home is 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. A company manages the property as a tourist attraction now. Some believe it is haunted by the family it was built for.

William's spirit has been seen pacing at night in the 2nd floor corridor. Helen wearing a white blouse and curly hair haunts her old bedroom. Phantom smells of incense and spirits have been reported in the horse stables. Adding to its mystery, some believe the mansion possesses hidden rooms and secret underground tunnels.
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Comments

Julie said…
Wonderful post about this castle and story about the family that lived there.
nameless said…
Adding to its mystery, some believe the mansion possesses hidden rooms and secret underground tunnels. THAT IS INCORRECT. THERE R 4 TUNNELS. 3 HAVE BEEN DISCOVER BY OUR MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT, BY ROAD EXTENSION N ETC. 1 STILL REMAINS HIDDEN N IT IS BELIVED DAT HIS CAR IS PARKED THERE.
kara_underworld said…
nice article..thnx
Kellie said…
ITS WONDERFUL!!!
Anonymous said…
its dangaraus
Sailor Earth said…
When u say about Helen spirit, i want to know, is Helen died at young age and how she died?
vinnetworks said…
http://500px.com/photo/3145863 have some look at this lovely castle capture by me :)
Anonymous said…
really nice and interesting
geetha said…
IT'S WAS REALLY REALLY GREAT...I WILL BELIEVE THAT THE SPIRIT STILL AT THERE...
Anonymous said…
wow.. evntgh i live in batu gajah bt i nvr hrd bout tis n honestly, i don't evn knw d story bhind those great castle.. i'm amazed n ashamed 4 nt knowing d real story about kellie's castle.. n d ghost does exist!!
scaredofthedark said…
I went to the castle and it said she died at the age of six. There is a secret passage in the guest room, Kellie's room, the connection inbetween Helen and Anthony's room and one from the kitchen.
Unknown said…
Ooh it's so scared to hear the story ..
Jacqueline Michel said…
We can go inside there???? I wanna go!! It sounds interesting!!!
Unknown said…
According to this story, Helen was alive when the son, Anthony, was born, 11 years after her. And that she was with him on his trip when he died. And it says that Agnes packed her things and her children and moved back to Scotland. So... Helen didn't die at 6.
Anonymous said…
How can it be that the castle is haunted by the family when they were no longer in Malaya..The story says,Smith died during his tour in Lisbon while Agnes has returned to scotland with her children??that's impossible!!..those must be the spirit of Smith's workmen and their families who left behind...
Anonymous said…
yeah I watched the movie call Anna and King and the fact you tell is really terrifying me..
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Your lover said…
Its true i have seen the ghost roaming around, scary.
Unknown said…
I want to go there
Anonymous said…
It is said that William Kellie Smith built this castle either to show his love to his wife or a home for his son...It was his dream to build this castle and it was never completed...The world war 2 ruined a part of his castle and most of the workers died because of the Spanish flu...the estate people over there asked William Kellie Smith to build a temple for the deity Mariamman to ask for forgiveness...he soon built the temple and in a few weeks the Spanish flu was no longer attacking them and it return for his favour the Indians in the estate made a statue of him and placed it along with the statues of other deities...Later,he went to Lisbon where people didn't know the actual reason for his visit and died of pneumonia..Thus,his dreams to build the castle was never completed and it is said that his spirit actually walks along the corridor on the second floor which is true...People believe that he might be guarding his great mansion for security reasons and maybe his spirit might be there because his dreams were not completed..

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