Tudor Places
of
Great Britain

Claire Ridgway

Copyright © 2015 Claire Ridgway

Kindle Edition

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Cover image: Little Moreton Hall Photo © Frank Brassington 2015

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Contents

SOUTH WEST

Acton Court

Athelhampton House

Barrington Court

Buckland Abbey

Corsham Court

Cotehele

Dunster Castle

The Golden Hind, Brixham Harbour

Kelmscott Manor

Longleat House

Montacute House

Pendennis Castle

Portland Castle

Sand, Sidbury

Sandsfoot Castle

St Mawes Castle

Sudeley Castle

Thornbury Castle

Trerice

Whittington Court

Wilton House

HENRY VIII’s ARTILLERY FORTS

Henry VIII’s Coastal Artillery Forts

SOUTH EAST

Anne of Cleves House, Lewes

Arreton Manor

Arundel Castle

Basing House

Bayham Old Abbey

Boughton Monchelsea Place

Breamore House

Buckingham Old Gaol Museum

Calshot Castle

Camber Castle

Canterbury Cathedral

Carisbrooke Castle

Cowdray House

Deal Castle

Dorney Court

Dover Castle

Firle Place

Greys Court

Hampton Court Palace

Hever Castle

Hurst Castle

Ightham Mote

King John’s House and Heritage Centre

Knole

Leeds Castle

Littlecote House

Loseley Park

Mapledurham Estate

Mary Rose Museum

Historic Oxford

Penshurst Place

Sandgate Castle

Sandown Castle, Kent

Shurland Hall

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Southsea Castle

The Vyne

Upnor Castle

Walmer Castle

Weald and Downland Museum

Whitehall Museum

Windsor Castle

LONDON

Eltham Palace

The Golden Hinde

Historic Greenwich

Hall Place

Lambeth Palace

Palace of Westminster

The Rose Playhouse

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

St James’s Palace

Sutton House

Syon House

Tower of London

Westminster Abbey

EAST OF ENGLAND

Blickling Hall

Buckden Towers

Elizabethan House Museum

Framlingham Castle

Hatfield House

Kentwell Hall

Lavenham Village, Suffolk

Layer Marney Tower

Melford Hall

Oxburgh Hall

Paycocke’s House

Peterborough Cathedral

Tilbury Fort

Waltham Abbey Church, Gatehouse and Bridge

EAST MIDLANDS

Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre

Bradgate House

Burghley House

Canons Ashby

Ellys Manor House

Gainsborough Old Hall

Haddon Hall

Hardwick Hall

Leicester Abbey Park

Lincoln Castle

Guildhall and Stonebow, Lincoln

WEST MIDLANDS

Baddesley Clinton

Charlecote Park

The Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick

Coombe Abbey

Coughton Court

Kenilworth Castle

Kinnersley Castle

Lilleshall Abbey

The Lord Leycester Hospital, Warwick

Ludlow Castle

Selly Manor and Minworth Greaves

St Nicholas Church, Kenilworth

Historic Stratford-upon-Avon

Tudor World (Falstaff Experience), Stratford-upon-Avon

Tutbury Castle

Warwick Castle

Weobley Village

Wroxall Abbey

WALES

Beaumaris Castle

Old Beaupre Castle

Cardiff Castle

Carew Castle

Carmarthen Castle

Chirk Castle

Conwy Castle

Denbigh Castle

Laugharne Castle

Mill Bay

Neath Abbey

Oxwich Castle

Pembroke Castle

Plas Mawr

Raglan Castle

Tudor Merchant’s House, Tenby

Ty Mawr Wybrnant

NORTH WEST

Bramall Hall

Browsholme Hall

Dalemain Historic House and Gardens

Furness Abbey

Gawsworth Hall

Gawthorpe Hall

Hoghton Tower

Levens Hall

Little Moreton Hall

Muncaster Castle

Naworth Castle

Ordsall Hall

Rufford Old Hall

Sizergh Castle

Speke Hall

Carlisle Park and the William Turner Garden

YORKSHIRE & HUMBER

Barley Hall

Richard III and Henry VII Experiences York

Burton Agnes Hall

Burton Constable Hall

Fountains Abbey

Jervaulx Abbey

Middleham Castle

Nunnington Hall

Pontefract Castle

Rievaulx Abbey

Royal Armouries, Leeds

Scarborough Castle

Sheffield Manor Lodge

Skipton Castle

Whitby Abbey

York Minster

NORTH EAST

Site of the Battle of Flodden

Lindisfarne Castle

Norham Castle

Raby Castle

SCOTLAND

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Linlithgow Palace

Lochleven Castle

Stirling Castle

Acknowledgements

SOUTH
WEST

Bristol

Cornwall

Devon

Dorset

Gloucestershire

Somerset

Wiltshire

Acton Court

The Poyntz family owned Acton Court from 1364 until 1680, when the direct line of succession ended and the house was sold. It was subsequently reduced in size and converted for use as a tenant farmhouse. The building’s fortunes declined to the point of dilapidation in the 20th century. It is due in part to this neglect that Acton Court was left largely untouched, and as a result a unique Tudor building has been preserved virtually intact.

In 1535, one of England’s most colourful kings, Henry VIII, stayed at Acton Court with his second wife, Anne Boleyn, whilst on his summer progress around the West Country. The owner of Acton Court, Nicholas Poyntz, wanted to impress his sovereign. So for Henry’s pleasure he built a magnificent new east wing on to the existing moated manor house.

The new wing was a splendid testament to Nicholas Poyntz’s loyalty to his king. He went to immense trouble and expense to impress Henry, decorating the state apartments lavishly and fashionably. He was well-rewarded, as it is thought he was knighted during the royal visit.

Today the east wing, which was built in just nine months, comprises most of what remains at Acton Court. It offers a rare example of 16th century royal state apartments and some decorations said to be the finest of their kind in England.

Sir Nicholas went on building at Acton Court until his death in 1556. The surviving eastern half of his long gallery can still be admired. It was a daring construction with large windows and a painted frieze of biblical text and moralising verses in Latin.

1. WEB: http://www.actoncourt.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Acton Court,
Latteridge Road,
Iron Acton,
Bristol,
BS37 9TL

3. TEL:
01454 228224

Athelhampton House

Athelhampton House is a stunning 15th century manor house located just 5 miles east of Dorchester in Dorset. It was built in around 1485, when Sir William Martyn was granted a licence to enclose 160 acres of deer park and fortify his manor. The great hall was built in 1493, a year after Sir William became Lord Mayor of London, and a west wing and gatehouse were built in 1550, although the gatehouse no longer stands.

The house stayed in the Martyn family for four generations before ownership was split between four daughters. The shares of the houses were finally reunited in 1848, and in 1891 antiquarian Alfred Cart de Lafontaine purchased the house and proceeded to restore it and create the formal gardens that still survive today.

Highlights include:

- • The great hall with its linenfold panelling, heraldic stained glass, large fireplace and historic furnishings

- • The work of artist Marevna, who lived at Athelhampton from 1948-1957

- • The formal gardens with their great court, corona, private garden, canal, octagonal pond and river walk

1. WEB: http://www.athelhampton.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Athelhampton House,
Athelhampton,
Dorchester,
Dorset
DT2 7LG

3. TEL:
01305 848682

Barrington Court

There has been a house on this site from at least the 13th century, when it was a large, early medieval manor owned by the Daubeneys. In 1235, it had a hall, a two-storeyed solar, a new building (also of two storeys), kitchens, chapel, gatehouse, barns, etc. Sadly, none of these buildings remains. The present house is architecturally important as well as beautiful. It incorporates elements of its medieval past whilst anticipating the Renaissance fashion for regularity and external show, which flowered in the reign of Elizabeth I. It is on the cusp of late Gothic/Renaissance architecture.

It was believed that the present Tudor building was built by Henry, last member of the powerful Daubeney family and later the first Duke of Bridgewater. Henry Daubeney’s father, Giles, was the rich and influential Lord Chamberlain to Henry VII. He leased medieval Hampton Court and brought his son up at Court, where Henry was a close contemporary of Henry VIII. Unfortunately, ‘Harry’ Daubeney bankrupted himself in aping the excesses of Henry’s courtiers. He made an unfortunate second marriage to Catherine Howard, aunt of Queen Catherine, and died penniless in 1548.

Recent research, however, suggests that the Court was built by the successful merchant tailor, William Clifton, who originated from Norwich. He added to his large fortune from land acquisitions, many of them in the West Country, and bought the estate in 1552. He was a ‘Tudor parvenu’, a member of the Muscovy Company, and was often away at Court or in London.

Highlights include:

- • The gardens – white garden, pergola walk and goose orchard

- • The ancient and detailed wood panelling in the house, complete with hidden symbols and signs and the long gallery

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/barrington-court/

2. ADDRESS:
Barrington Court,
Barrington,
near Ilminster,
Somerset
TA19 0NQ

3. TEL:
01460 241938

Buckland Abbey

Due in large part to the quirks of its former owner, Sir Richard Grenville, Buckland Abbey is one of the more homely of England’s great Tudor houses. Preferring to fashion his home from the original abbey church, rather than creating a new building or forming an adaptation of existing domestic buildings, Grenville created an unusual abode and set about filling it with weird and wonderful interiors, including plaster and wood friezes depicting strange and often obscene images.

Buckland Abbey was originally established as a Cistercian monastery in the 13th century and remained in use until it was dissolved by Henry VIII. It was sold to Sir Richard Grenville the Elder, sewer to the chamber of Henry VIII, in 1541 and Grenville then set about converting it into a home. In 1581 it was sold by Sir Richard Grenville the Younger and it became the home of Sir Francis Drake, the famous Elizabethan sea captain and privateer. Drake resided at Buckland for fifteen years and it stayed in his family’s ownership until 1946. It is now owned by the National Trust.

Highlights include:

- • Drake’s Drum – the snare drum Drake took on all his sea adventures and which is said to beat if England is in danger

- • The chapel with its medieval high altar

- • The gardens with their beautiful abbey garden, Elizabethan garden, herb garden, cider house and kitchen garden

- • The Buckland Rembrandt – a self-portrait by Rembrandt. This was once thought to be “school of Rembrandt”, but is now verified as being by Rembrandt himself

- • Tranquil estate walks

- • The great barn, which has remained unchanged for centuries

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/buckland-abbey/

2. ADDRESS:
Buckland Abbey
Yelverton,
Devon
PL20 6EY

3. TEL:
01822 853607

Corsham Court

Set within extensive parkland in the Wiltshire countryside, Corsham Court is a lovely English manor house. Privately owned since it passed from royal hands during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, Corsham previously enjoyed an extensive royal history as a building that formed part of the Queen of England’s dowry throughout the late 14th and early 15th centuries. Its links to the monarchy meant that Corsham was held by Catherine of Aragon until 1536, and by Henry’s sixth and final wife Catherine Parr until 1548.

Since passing into private hands, Corsham Court has enjoyed a rich artistic history, which continues today, with it housing an extensive collection of artworks. Originally a royal Saxon manor and summer palace, Corsham is said to have been the seat of Aethelred the Unready. It has, of course, seen many alterations throughout its history, not least of all in the late 18th century when the extensive parklands at Corsham were landscaped by the most famous of all English garden designers Capability Brown. In addition to its attractions as simply a beautiful place to spend time, Corsham’s Tudor-related links make it a must-see location for the history enthusiast.

Highlights include:

- • The formal gardens, with herbaceous borders, lily pond, box hedging, mature magnolias, and arboretum with Elizabethan conduit house

- • The house’s collection, which includes paintings by Van Dyck and Reynolds, and the allegorical portrait of Elizabeth I, and furniture by Chippendale

1. WEB: http://www.corsham-court.co.uk/index.htm

2. ADDRESS:
Corsham Court,
Wiltshire
SN13 0BZ

3. TEL:
01249 712214 / 701610

Cotehele

Cotehele, situated in the parish of Calstock, Cornwall, high above the River Tamar, is a lovely fortified, manor house. It dates back to c.1300 but was re-built in Tudor times, between 1485 and 1520, by Sir Richard Edgcumbe and his son Sir Piers Edgcumbe, and remained in the family’s ownership for many centuries. It is considered one of the least altered Tudor houses in England and is cared for by the National Trust.

Highlights include:

- • The formally planted terraces, the upper garden and pond, orchards and valley garden with its medieval stewpond and 16th century dovecote

- • The house’s collection of tapestries, weapons, armour, pewter and brass

- • The chapel, which was first consecrated in 1411 and was re-modelled in the early 1500s

- • The quay, with its discovery centre

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele/

2. ADDRESS:
Cotehele,
St Dominick,
Near Saltash,
Cornwall
PL12 6TA

3. TEL:
01579 351346

Dunster Castle

Perched atop Dunster Tor, the ancient Castle of Dunster is an imposing sight, with turrets and towers dotting its roofline. A fortress of one form or another has stood on the tor for more than 1,000 years, with the Saxon fortress on this location recorded in the Domesday Book. The castle was owned by the Luttrell family from the 14th to the 20th centuries, and it was the Luttrells who built a manor house within the lower ward of the castle in the early 17th century. Dunster Castle today comprises the 17th century manor house, which was remodelled in the 19th century, the medieval great tower and towers of the lower ward.

The castle offers a diverting day-out to today’s visitor, with its stunning location and fine interior detailing. It also boasts a number of unique features, not least of all the castle ‘bat cams’, which record and broadcast the daily exploits of the bats that roost beneath the medieval staircase of the tenants’ hall. Dunster also owns what is largely thought to be one of the most unusual of all Tudor images, an intriguing allegorical portrait of Sir John Luttrell, in which he is painted alongside the goddesses Pax, Venus and Minerva, and the Three Graces. Painted in 1550 by Hans Eworth, the portrait is believed to offer tribute to Luttrell’s distinguished military career.

Highlights include:

- • Exquisite views across Exmoor and the Bristol Channel

- • Ornate plasterwork ceilings

- • King Charles bedroom – the most haunted room in the castle

- • The leather gallery’s six 17th century leather wall hangings

- • A Tudor Allegory – the portrait of Sir John Luttrell in the inner hall

- • The 17th century stables

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/dunster-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Dunster Castle,
Dunster,
Near Minehead,
Somerset
TA24 6SL

3. TEL:
01643 821314

The Golden Hind,
Brixham Harbour

Few men of the Tudor age are as recognisable as Sir Francis Drake and fewer still enjoyed the international reputation and fame that he experienced following his circumnavigation of the globe. The first Englishman to complete this astonishing voyage, it is fitting that this replica of his most famous ship, The Golden Hind, is on display in Devon, as it was not only the departure and return port of this epic adventure, but Devon is also Drake’s county of birth.

This full-sized replica, which is docked and on permanent display at Brixham Harbour, was painstakingly constructed in the 1960s with an amazing level of detail and historic accuracy. It offers the visitor extensive access both above and below the ship’s decks.

Sir Francis Drake’s achievements brought him not only fame but also immense wealth. The modern day equivalent value of the hoard contained within The Golden Hind when it returned to Britain is £25 million. It was not all Drake’s, of course, it was largely claimed by Queen Elizabeth I for the crown of England, but Drake became an extremely rich man.

A visit to The Golden Hind offers a fascinating insight into life as it would have been on board one of England’s most famous ships.

Highlights include:

- • The “Golden Globe”, etched with the route of the 40,000 mile voyage

- • The replica ship

- • Typical weapons and guns

- • The lower gun deck, with its realistic displays and artefacts

- • Hands-on activities, such as rope tying

- • 360 degree view of Brixham from the “Poop”

1. WEB: http://goldenhind.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Golden Hind Museum Ship
The Quayside, Brixham Harbour,
Devon
TQ5 8AW

3. TEL:
01803 856223

Kelmscott Manor

Located in the Cotswold village of Kelmscott, near Lechlade, and set on the River Thames, this lovely limestone manor house was built in around 1570 by farmer Thomas Turner, whose family owned it for many generations. In 1871, it became the country home of English textile designer, poet, novelist, translator, and socialist activist William Morris, who used it until his death in 1896 and who described it as being the “loveliest haunt of ancient peace”. Morris leased it jointly with his friend Dante Gabriel Rossetti, the Pre-Raphaelite artist.

The property is now owned by the Society of Antiquaries London and is open to the public every Wednesday and Saturday from 1st April to 31st October.

Highlights include:

- • The beautiful gardens, with barns, dovecote, meadow and stream

- • The unspoilt and unaltered manor house

1. WEB: https://www.sal.org.uk/kelmscott-manor/

2. ADDRESS:
Kelmscott Manor,
Kelmscott,
Lechlade,
Gloucestershire
GL7 3HJ

3. TEL:
01367 252486

Longleat House

Longleat House is the seat of the Marquesses of Bath and is an early example of the early English Prodigy House, a showy house built in the Tudor and Jacobean periods by courtiers and wealthy people in order to impress. It is a beautiful Elizabethan country home set in 900 acres of parkland landscaped by Capability Brown. It also has a maze and safari park.

The building was designed by Robert Smythson and built by Sir John Thynne, who also helped with the design, after he bought the land of a former Augustinian priory in 1540 for £53. The building was completed by 1580 and is still owned by the Thynne family, now spelled “Thynn”, being resided in by Alexander Thynn, 7th Marquess of Bath, and being managed by his son, Ceawlin Thynn, Viscount Weymouth.

Highlights include:

- • The Elizabethan great hall with minstrels’ gallery and the blood-stained, silk-sleeved waistcoat worn by King Charles I at his execution in 1649

- • The ceilings with their ornate paintings and gilt, particularly the Venetian ceiling painting in the ante-library

- • The countless priceless antiques

- • World War I exhibition

- • The libraries with their collection of over 40,000 books

- • Capability Brown’s landscaped gardens and parkland

1. WEB: http://www.longleat.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Longleat House,
Longleat,
Warminster,
Wiltshire
BA12 7NW

3. TEL:
01985 844400

Montacute House

Montacute House is a beautiful piece of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture. It was built between c.1598 and 1601 by English lawyer and politician Sir Edward Phelps, a man who was to become speaker of the House of Commons in the reign of James I. The three-storey mansion was constructed using local Ham Hill stone under the instruction of master mason William Arnold. It features a mix of Renaissance and Gothic, with Renaissance gables, pediments, statues and windows, but Gothic pinnacles. Dutch gables are decorated with stone animals, and the house also has large mullioned windows and statues of the Nine Worthies in the niches separating the windows of the second-floor long gallery. The long lallery is the longest of its kind in England.

It is little wonder that the property has been used as a film location on many occasions, and scenes from the BBC’s Wolf Hall were filmed there.

Highlights include:

- • The collection of over sixty Tudor and Elizabethan portraits in the long gallery

- • Beautiful gardens and parkland

- • The stunning Renaissance-style architecture – some features emulate the Palazzo degli Uffizi in Florence

- • Daily tours

- • The heraldic shields in the stained glass windows of the library

- • The etched window graffiti in the library

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/montacute-house/

2. ADDRESS:
Montacute House,
Monatcute,
Somerset
TA15 6XP

3. TEL:
01935 823289

Within a 20 minute drive of Montacute House are:

- • Stoke-sub-Hamdon Priory, North Street, Stoke-sub-Hamdon, SomersetTA14 6QP - 14th/15th century farm buildings which formerly served as a priest’s residence. The Great Hall is open to visitors.
See http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/stoke-sub-hamdon-priory/ or telephone 01935 823289

- • Treasurer’s House, Martock, Somerset, TA12 6JL – A 13th century medieval house which was added to in the 15th century and whose solar block has an unusual wall painting. See http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/treasurers-house-martock/ or telephone 01935 825015.

- • Priest’s House, Muchelney, Langport, Somerset, TA10 0DQ – A 14th century medieval hall-house built for the local parish priest. Features include a Gothic doorway, 15th century fireplace and double-height tracery. See http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/priests-house-muchelney/ or telephone 01458 253771.

Pendennis Castle

The coastal defences of England are one of the most lasting legacies of the reign of King Henry VIII. Following the dissolution of his marriage to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, and fearing invasion from France and Spain, Henry embarked on a massive fortification programme. Starting on the Kent coastline, at the points closest to England’s European neighbours, the series of forts and castles he created extended across southern England and culminated in Cornwall, on England’s most south-westerly tip, with the twin castles of Pendennis and St Mawes.

Erected between 1540 and 1545, Pendennis Castle boasts a recognisable circular tower surrounded by low curtain walls. Built on the west bank of the River Fal, Pendennis faced its east bank counterpart St Mawes (also managed by English Heritage and accessible to the public) and provided formidable defences for this most distant point of Henry’s kingdom. As with many of the forts within this coastal artillery chain, Pendennis continued to be adapted in order to fulfil its duties in an ever-changing world and still played a defensive role as recently as the Second World War. The castle was significantly altered in 1598, in the reign of Elizabeth I, when a more imposing rampart was constructed.

Highlights include:

- • The castle keep with its recreated gun deck and spectacular views from the roof

- • Half Moon Battery Tour

- • The discovery centre with interactive activities

- • Guns and cannons – between April and October the noon day gun is fired

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/pendennis-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Pendennis Castle,
Castle Close,
Falmouth,
Cornwall
TR11 4LP

3. TEL:
0370 333 1181

Portland Castle

Portland Castle was built in the early 1540s as part of Henry VIII’s device programme of artillery forts to protect the south coast against French and Imperial invasion.

It is located on the Isle of Portland, a limestone tied island, and overlooks Portland Harbour in Dorset. It is regarded as “one of Henry VIII’s finest coastal forts” and was used in the English Civil War, as a Royalist stronghold, and the First and Second World Wars.

A number of governors have been in charge of the fort throughout its history, including Sir Walter Ralegh the famous explorer.

Highlights include:

- • Family playtime – dress up as a Tudor soldier or royal gunner, or play traditional board games

- • The Tudor kitchen

- • Wall walk with spectacular views out to sea as well as views of the two concrete pheonix caissons dating from the D-Day preparations of 1944

- • The gun room with its five guns casemates

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/portland-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Portland Castle
Liberty Road,
Castletown,
Dorset
DT5 1AZ

3. TEL:
0370 333 1181

Sand, Sidbury

This lovely Elizabethan country house dates back to the 1590s, when a family home was built to replace an earlier building, and is set in 6 acres of tranquil gardens in the Devon countryside. It is privately owned by Stephen and Stella Huyshe-Shires, whose family have owned the land for over 500 years, and who provide guided tours of the property along with the adjacent medieval hall house.

Highlights include:

- • The beautifully restored Elizabethan house with its period features

- • The gardens complete with 16th century thatched summer house, borders and shady woodland

- • Late medieval hall house

- • Hearing what it’s like to live in and maintain such an historic property

1. WEB: http://www.sandsidbury.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Sand,
Sidbury,
Sidmouth,
Devon
EX10 0QN

3. TEL:
01395 597230

Sandsfoot Castle

Sandsfoot Castle was built in 1539 on the orders of King Henry VIII as part of his building programme of coastal artillery forts to protect, along with its sister castle Portland, a defence of Portland Harbour. It is located opposite Portland Castle and once comprised two storeys plus basement, but is now in ruins. Coastal erosion led to it being in bad repair by as early as 1584 but it was used as a Royalist stronghold, and possibly a mint, during the English Civil War. It then fell into ruins, with its stone being robbed for other buildings.

The ruins were purchased for £150 in 1902 by the Weymouth Corporation who laid out Tudor-style gardens in front of the castle in 1931. In 2009 and 2010, grants from the Heritage Lottery Fund were awarded to the Friends of Rodwell Trail and Sandsfoot Castle in partnership with Weymouth and Portland Borough Council to renovate the castle. They added an internal walkway with floodlighting. The castle is Weymouth’s only scheduled monument.

Highlights include:

- • Sandsfoot Gardens – with seasonal flowers, herbaceous borders and herbs, ornamental pond and fountain

- • The beautiful and atmospheric ruins of the fort

1. WEB: http://www.sandsfootcastle.org.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Sandsfoot Castle,
Old Castle Road,
Weymouth,
Dorset
DT4 8QG

St Mawes Castle

According to English Heritage, St Mawes Castle in Cornwall is “among the best-preserved of Henry VIII’s coastal artillery fortresses, and the most elaborately decorated of them all”. Like its sister castle, Pendennis, which sits on the other side of the Fal estuary, St Mawes Castle was built between 1539 and 1545 as one of Henry VIII’s chain of defensive forts to protect the south coast from invasion by France and Spain. With Pendennis Castle, its main task was to protect Carrick Roads, a large natural harbour. It was to do this by being equipped with heavy ship-sinking guns.

St Mawes Castle is well-preserved, due to the fact that it did not undergo any later building work, so is the perfect place to visit to see an example of Henry VIII’s fortifications.

Highlights include:

- • The views of Pendennis Castle and sea views from the castle keep

- • The defensive gun platforms

- • Tudor blockhouse

- • The audio tour, which brings the castle’s history to life

- • The “oubliette”, where people were imprisoned

- • The beautiful stone carvings of the Tudor royal arms with Latin inscriptions dotted around the castle. These were designed to flatter Henry VIII and his son Edward.

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/st-mawes-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
St Mawes Castle,
Castle Drive,
St Mawes,
Cornwall
TR2 5DE

3. TEL:
0370 333 1181

Sudeley Castle

Set against the backdrop of the Cotswold hills in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Sudeley Castle & Gardens has played an important role in England’s history, boasting royal connections that stretch back over 1,000 years.

Sudeley Castle & Gardens is the only private castle in England to have a queen buried within the grounds. The last of Henry VIII’s six wives, Catherine Parr, lived and died in the castle. She is now entombed in a beautiful 15th century church found within the award-winning gardens.

A highlight for Tudor lovers is the collection of artefacts and works of art of great historical importance from this era, which includes Catherine Parr’s love letters, lacework reputedly made by Anne Boleyn, and the Book of Hours from the Royal Library of Henry VIII.

Sudeley Castle’s magnificent gardens are world-renowned, providing variety and colour from spring through to autumn. The centrepiece is the Queens Garden, so named because four of England’s Tudor queens – Anne Boleyn, Catherine Parr, Lady Jane Grey and Elizabeth I – once admired the hundreds of varieties of roses found in the garden.

St Mary’s Church is bordered by the White Garden, rich with peonies, clematis, roses and tulips, where Catherine Parr and her companion, Lady Jane Grey, would have entered the church for daily prayers.

The Knot Garden is based on a dress pattern worn by Elizabeth I in a portrait that hangs in the castle and a tranquil carp pond is set opposite the ruins of the 15th century tithe barn.

1. WEB: http://www.sudeleycastle.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Sudeley Castle & Gardens,
Nr Winchcombe,
Gloucestershire,
GL54 5JD

3. TEL:
01242 604244

Thornbury Castle

Thornbury Castle, a Tudor Castle set on the edge of the Cotswolds, dates back to 1510 when Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, obtained a licence to crenelate his manor of Thornbury. There had been a manor on the site since 930, but it was Buckingham who built the present “castle”, which is, in reality, a Tudor country house, with building work beginning in 1511. It was built to the standard medieval quadrangular layout with a large outer courtyard. The entrance front with its central gatehouse and octagonal corner towers is still standing today, as are two of the side ranges with their projections and towers. The surrounding curtain wall is intact on three sides.

Unfortunately, Buckingham never saw his project completed because he was executed for alleged treason against King Henry VIII in 1521. The manor was then seized by the king, who stayed there for ten days with his second wife, Anne Boleyn, as part of their progress to the south-west in August 1535.

The castle is now a luxury hotel and guests can even stay in the “Duke’s Bedchamber”, the very room in which Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn stayed back in 1535.

Highlights include:

- • The battlements, ornamental Tudor décor and Tudor chimneys

- • Unspoilt grounds, which are said to be the oldest Tudor gardens in England

- • Twenty-six individually designed bedchambers, all with historical details and many with four-poster beds

- • The nearby St Mary’s Church, which dates back to Norman times

1. WEB: http://www.thornburycastle.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Thornbury Castle Hotel
Thornbury,
South Gloucestershire
BS35 1HH

3. TEL:
Bookings taken on 0844 482 2152

Trerice

Trerice, just a stone’s throw from Newquay in Cornwall, is what the National Trust describes as “an intimate Elizabethan manor and a Cornish gem”. The Arundell family inherited the Trerice estate around 700 years ago, but the manor we know today was built in 1572 by John Arundell V. The Arundell family had risen in status and wealth due to gaining good positions at the royal court, and John’s income had been boosted by making a good marriage match to Katherine Hill in 1562.

John’s son, John Arundell VI became known as “John/Jack for the King”, following his support of King Charles I and his defence of Pendennis Castle for the king during the Civil War. Following the restoration of King Charles II, John’s son, Richard, was created 1st Baron Arundell of Trerice due to their support of Charles I.

The Arundell line died out in 1768 and the house passed into the hands of the Acland family, due to Margaret Acland having married John 2nd Baron Arundell, in 1675. In the 19th century, Thomas Dyke Acland set about restoring the great hall and chamber, but the rest of the property was let as a farm to the Tremaine family. The estate comprised 500 acres of land, Trerice manor house and other buildings, a watermill, woodlands and orchards. Unfortunately, following the First World War, the estate was divided into twelve separate farms.

In 1953, the Eltons, who had first come to the property in 1944, began to reside at Trerice as tenants of the National Trust and started rebuilding and restoring the manor house, spending around £60,000 on it. They also opened the property to visitors. It is still open to visitors today and is managed by the National Trust.

Did you know that Trerice was Winston Graham’s inspiration for writing Poldark, and his inspiration for Trenwith? It was also used as a film location for the 1970s adaptation.

Highlights include:

- • The Tudor great hall and the great chamber, with their magnificent windows and ceilings.

- • The great barn, which now houses a restaurant.

- • The Tudor garden

- • The views from the kayling lawn – where you can also try a game of kayling

- • Brass rubbing

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/trerice/

2. ADDRESS:
Trerice,
Kestle Mill,
Near Newquay,
Cornwall
TR8 4PG

3. TEL:
01637 875404

Whittington Court

Whittington Court is a pretty Cotswold stone Elizabethan manor house situated about 5 miles east of Cheltenham in Gloucestershire. The house was built on the site of an older moated and crenelated manor and was probably begun by Richard Cotton, who died in 1556, and continued by his son John. It was certainly completed in time for Queen Elizabeth I’s visit en route to Sudeley Castle.

In the 17th century, Whittington was owned by Sir John Denham, surveyor general to Charles II, and then it passed into the hands of the earls of Derby for a time. The house underwent alterations in the 16th,17th, 18th and 20th centuries, and today comprises a 16th century three-storey central range, 17th century three-storey east wing and 20th century two-storey kitchen wing on the western side.

Highlights include:

- • The house’s collection of glass and ceramics

- • The beauty of the Cotswold stone house with its oriel windows

- • The Elizabethan interior

1. WEB: http://www.hha.org.uk/Property/431/Whittington-Court

2. ADDRESS:
Whittington Court,
Whittington,
Andoversford,
Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire
GL54 4HF

3. TEL:
01242 820556

Wilton House

The history of Wilton House dates back to the 9th century when a priory, Wilton Abbey, was founded by King Egbert. The abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII and the land granted to William Herbert, 1st Earl of Pembroke, in the early 1540s. Renovations show that Herbert did not completely demolish the abbey but that he incorporated it into his Tudor mansion, which he started building in 1551.

All that remains of Herbert’s Tudor mansion today is the entrance porch, known as the Holbein Porch – although there is no evidence that Holbein actually designed it - which was removed from the house in the 19th century and used as a garden pavilion, and the great tower found in the centre of the eastern façade. The rest of the house was pulled down in 1630 and a complex of new staterooms, designed by Inigo Jones, Isaac de Caux and John Webb, was built in its place. What was built in place of Herbert’s Tudor mansion is a beautiful example of early Palladian architecture.

Highlights include:

- • The Tudor tower with its central arch and oriel windows

- • The Holbein Porch

- • The Palladian architecture of Wilton House with its magnificent state rooms, including single cube room and double cube room

- • The lovely 17th century interiors and world famous art collection featuring artists such as Van Dyck, Pieter Brueghel, Rembrandt van Rijn and Richard Wilson

- • The extensive gardens and grounds

1. WEB: http://www.wiltonhouse.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Wilton House,
Wilton,
Salisbury
SP2 0BJ

3. TEL:
01722 746714

HENRY
VIII’s
ARTILLERY
FORTS

Henry VIII’s Coastal
Artillery Forts

By English Heritage

In February 1539, Henry VIII initiated a system of coastal defence designed to protect his kingdom from an anticipated attack by the great European powers. In the years following the annulment of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon in 1533, his repudiation of papal authority and assumption of the title Supreme Head of the Church in England, Henry had faced an increasingly threatening international situation. In the same year as he was excommunicated by the Pope, the two most powerful Catholic monarchs in Europe, Francis I of France and the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V, signed a peace treaty, leading to English fears of a joint invasion. In response, Henry appointed commissioners to survey and identify portions of the coast vulnerable to invasion with a view to establishing permanent fortifications to protect them.

The result was a chain of about thirty fortifications constructed along the coast from Hull to the entrance to Milford Haven, designed to impede a hostile landing at likely harbours and anchorages. The chain of fortifications included ten castles – Sandown, Deal, Walmer, Sandgate, Camber, Calshot, Hurst, Portland, Pendennis and St Mawes. These castles shared similarities in their design and form, each presenting tiers of gun embrasures in thick-walled, relatively squat, rounded bastions with curved parapets designed to deflect shot, set around a circular central tower. Each castle also included accommodation and stores for its garrison.

Although the feared joint invasion never materialised, further fortifications were built in the 1540s as relations between England and France entered into war. The castles reflected the king’s prestige, power and also personal interest: Henry is known to have provided advice and contributed plans or “plattes” for his fortifications, and to have discussed practical issues with his engineers. In 1546 Henry was said to be “a perfect builder as well of fortresses as of pleasant palaces”, and his surviving coastal fortifications are a legacy of his endeavours.

Many of these castles survive in the care of English Heritage and are open to the public. For details including opening times and prices visit: www.english-heritage.org.uk

In particular, Walmer Castle and Gardens in Kent re-opened in April 2015 after major work to re-imagine the interiors and bring to life the fascinating stories of some of the castle’s inhabitants, including in the bicentenary year of the Battle of Waterloo, the Duke of Wellington who died at Walmer.

Deal Castle is just minutes away by car or a pleasant stroll or cycle along the beach path. Its interior presentation and external features make for an interesting comparison with Walmer.

On the south Cornwall coast, Pendennis and St Mawes Castles make a picturesque pairing. Together the castles guarded the important anchorage of Carrick Roads between Falmouth and St Mawes. Presiding over the Fal estuary, Pendennis is one of the finest of the mighty fortresses built by Henry VIII. It has seen action in many conflicts right through until the Second World War, and has been frequently adapted to face new enemies over 400 years. The castle keep is well preserved, and an interactive exhibition in the 1901 Royal Artillery Barracks brings the history of the castle and its people to life.

Across the water in a stunning setting, St Mawes is among the best-preserved of Henry VIII’s coastal artillery fortresses. Alongside the charming clover-leaf shape of the castle, its elaborate decoration is of particular note - it is still bedecked with carved Latin inscriptions in praise of King Henry VIII and his son Edward VI. It owes its fine preservation to the fact that, unlike Pendennis Castle, it was little developed after its completion.

SOUTH
EAST

Berkshire

Buckinghamshire

East Sussex

Hampshire

Isle of Wight

Kent

Oxfordshire

Surrey

West Sussex

Anne of Cleves House, Lewes

A traditional Wealden style timber-framed house dating from the 1400s, Anne of Cleves House is situated in a picturesque village setting and is extremely well-preserved. The house on Southover High Street formed part of Anne of Cleves’ settlement upon the dissolution of her marriage to King Henry VIII. It was never her home, it was an asset, and it is even unclear whether Anne actually ever stayed in the property. Whatever its links with Anne, the house offers visitors the opportunity to experience life as it was in Tudor times.

Anne of Cleves House is a substantial building and, as such, would have been home to people of note, something that is reflected by the luxurious carved oak furniture within the property. It has lovely exposed timber beams and traditionally white-washed walls, and is living history at its best. It is a ‘must’ for any visitor seeking a real Tudor atmosphere.

While you are in the area why not also visit the ruins of the 11th century (c1082 to c1100) Lewes Priory.

Highlights:

- • The fine medieval building

- • The authentically furnished kitchen

- • The garden, which features traditional plants and Tudor planting schemes

- • The café and Tudor tea garden

1. WEB: https://sussexpast.co.uk/properties-to-discover/anne-of-cleves-house
http://www.lewespriory.org.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Anne of Cleves House,
52 Southover High St,
Lewes
BN7 1JA

3. TEL:
01273 474610

Arreton Manor

Situated on the Isle of Wight and set in 5 acres of landscaped formal gardens is a beautiful manor house whose history dates back to the 9th century. The original manor of Arreton was owned by the likes of King Alfred, Edward the Confessor and William the Conqueror, but the present manor house was built between 1595 and 1612 incorporating part of a 14th century manor house in its east wing. It has a central porch and two projecting wings. King Charles I, Queen Mary (of Teck) and Queen Victoria have all visited the house.

Arreton Manor is not open to the public but does offer luxury bed and breakfast accommodation in the house and self-catering accommodation in “the Nook”.

See its website for further information.

Highlights include:

- • The dining parlour with its Jacobean panelling and fireplace with a fireback bearing the royal coat of arms from one of James I’s palaces

- • The knot garden and parterres

1. WEB: http://www.arretonmanor.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Arreton Manor,
Arreton,
Isle of Wight
PO30 3AA

3. TEL:
01983 522604

Arundel Castle

There are strong connections between Arundel Castle and the Tudor dynasty. The Fitzalan and Howard families were leading nobles at the Tudor court and were involved in the two greatest victories of the Tudor dynasty: the victory over the Scots at Flodden in 1513, where the English army was commanded by Thomas Howard (who was restored to his ‘rightful title’ of Duke of Norfolk in recompense) and his son Thomas, eventually 3rd Duke of Norfolk; and the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 by the English fleet under the command of Lord Howard of Effingham, Lord High Admiral of England.

The first four dukes of Norfolk were all prominent courtiers and military commanders and their lives and public offices are part of national history. The elder son of the 3rd Duke, Henry Earl of Surrey, was a poet who, with Thomas Wyatt, perfected the English sonnet form and blank verse. He was executed by Henry VIII. His son, the 4th Duke was executed by Queen Elizabeth I, having tried to marry Mary Queen of Scots (the Catholic heir to the throne). His son, in turn, Philip Earl of Arundel, was imprisoned in the tower by Elizabeth for his Catholic faith and died there.

Portraits of all the 16th century heads of the Howard family are on display at Arundel Castle, as is a collection of personal relics of Mary, Queen of Scots, including the gold rosary beads she carried on the scaffold at Fotheringhay. The archives preserve many historical documents from the period, including patents granting offices and titles, and 16th century estate and personal accounts.

Highlights include:

- • Magnificent views across the South Downs

- • The finely preserved interior and historic artefacts

- • The beautiful walled gardens, which include herbaceous borders, kitchen garden, white garden and rose garden

- • The Fitzalan Chapel – burial place of the dukes of Norfolk

1. WEB: http://www.arundelcastle.org/

2. ADDRESS:
Arundel Castle,
Arundel,
West Sussex
BN18 9AB

3. TEL:
01903 882173

Basing House

Basing House, situated in the village of Old Basing near Basingstoke, was built as a palace to rival Hampton Court Palace by William Paulet, 1st Marquess of Winchester, in the early 1530s when he was one of Henry VIII’s privy councillors and comptroller of the household. It was built on the site of an earlier medieval castle and comprised five storeys and 360 rooms. Paulet was an important courtier and royal servant, so his house was visited by Henry VIII, Mary I and Philip of Spain, and Elizabeth I.

During the English Civil War, the house was owned by John Paulet, 5th Marquess of Winchester, a Royalist, and the house was besieged by Parliamentarians on three occasions. In October 1645, Basing House finally fell to Oliver Cromwell and caught fire, leading to it being “totally slighted and demolished” by the victors and the stone being used by locals. Although the house was returned to Paulet after the Restoration, it was too badly damaged to rebuild and today we can only see ruins of this once opulent palace.

Highlights include:

- • The battle-scarred great barn, which dates back to 1535, and its audio-visual show

- • Interpretive panels guiding visitors around the ruins

- • The museum, which tells of the history of the house

- • The Norman earthworks

1. WEB: http://www.visit-hampshire.co.uk/things-to-do/basing-house-p37991

2. ADDRESS:
Basing House,
Off Bartons Lane,
Old Basing,
Basing,
Basingstoke,
Hampshire
RG24 8AE

3. TEL:
0845 603 5635

Bayham Old Abbey

Bayham Old Abbey, which is located on the Kent-Sussex border, was founded in the early 13th century by Premonstratensian canons and served as an abbey until its dissolution in Henry VIII’s reign. Its sandstone ruins include a 14th century gatehouse, chapter house and a significant amount of the church, which was built between the 13th and 15th centuries. The great 18th century landscape designer Humphrey Repton designed the grounds the ruins stand in.

Highlights include:

- • The picturesque gatehouse

- • Gothic Revival dower house, or Bayham Old Abbey House as it was known – rooms in this “Georgian Gothick” house are open to the public

- • Chapter house

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/bayham-old-abbey/

2. ADDRESS:
Bayham Old Abbey
Furnace Lane,
Little Bayham,
Tunbridge Wells
TN3 8LP

3. TEL:
01892 890381

Boughton Monchelsea Place

This 16th century stone-built manor house was built around
1567-75 by Robert Rudston, who purchased the manor in 1551 from Thomas Wyatt the Younger, known for leading Wyatt’s Rebellion. Rudston extended the earlier manor house, building a two-storey L-shaped main house that formed the eastern and southern sides of a courtyard, with single storey stables and service wings being built on the other sides.

Boughton Monchelsea stands in an estate of 165 acres, which includes a walled garden, deer park, lake and woodland, and was built from Kentish ragstone. The property is privately owned but group bookings can be made to visit the gardens and grounds, or to have guided tours of the house.

Highlights include:

- • The interiors of the house, which are a mix of Tudor, Georgian Gothic and Victorian

- • 16th and 17th century stained glass

- • Medieval and later stone mullioned windows

- • Fine wall panelling

- • Beautiful gardens, including walled gardens with herbaceous borders, climbing roses, kitchen garden and orchard

- • Views over the deer park

- • Pretty, stone-flagged courtyard with Georgian clock tower

1. WEB: http://www.boughtonplace.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Boughton Monchelsea Place,
Church Hill,
Maidstone
ME17 4BU

3. TEL:
01622 743120

Breamore House

Breamore House is a magnificent Elizabethan manor house situated just north of Fordingbridge, in Hampshire, overlooking the Avon Valley. It was completed by William Dodington in 1583 and although it underwent some alterations in the 18th century and was restored after a fire in 1856, it still looks the same as it did in the Elizabethan era. It was built from rose red brick with stone quoins, and its façade was built in the typical ‘E’ shape, with two outer gables and a smaller central gable.

Today the house is home to a large collection of paintings, tapestries, porcelain and needlework, and a James I carpet.

Highlights include:

- • The great hall, with its 17th century Brussels tapestries and paintings by David Teniers the Younger and the studio of Van Dyck

- • The dining room, with its Tudor character and early refectory tables

- • The Tudor bedrooms, with their timbered walls, period furniture and tapestries

1. WEB: http://www.breamorehouse.com/index.html

2. ADDRESS:
Breamore House,
Nr Fordingbridge,
Hampshire
SP6 2DF

3. TEL:
01725 512858

Buckingham Old Gaol Museum

Buckingham was a prosperous market and county town during the Tudor period and there are still several buildings dating in parts from then. Although it looks much older, Buckingham Old Gaol was not built until 1748, one of the country’s first purpose-built borough gaols. It is now owned by a trust and houses a museum telling the story of Buckingham and the surrounding area; a story starting with geology and local fossils through a busy Roman occupation followed by the subsequent development of the town.

The museum contains several Tudor artefacts. An ivory crucifix reputedly belonging to Catherine of Aragon is on show in the Old Gaol Museum, along with a few fragments from a Tudor house demolished in the 1960s, a piece of painted plaster, a plank of linen-fold carving, tiles and wooden Tudor-rose bosses. Also on display are three measures inscribed “QEI 1601” and a weight of similar date. These and the ivory crucifix are on loan from Buckingham Town Council.

Behind the Queen Anne façade of nearby Castle House hides an Elizabethan fortified house where Queen Catherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII, often stayed with the Fowler family. She was here in 1513 when the news arrived of the defeat of the Scots at Flodden. Catherine, a good needle-woman, may have introduced the art of bobbin lace-making to the area. Lace-making became a major occupation for local women, as is explained in the museum with displays of lace and bobbins.

Henry VIII is also known to have visited Buckingham, possibly with Anne Boleyn, who had family connections with the town. Buckingham was the second town in England to declare Mary Tudor queen, and she granted the town’s first royal charter in January 1554. A copy is on show. The town was equally pleased to give a warm royal welcome to Queen Elizabeth I when she passed through on 25th August 1568, stopping to dine at “the Manscion howse of the Rectorie or p’sonage”. The exact location of this building is unknown, but from the evidence on John Speed’s 16th century map it is possibly under the University of Buckingham’s car park, and also possibly the same place where King Henry VIII stayed. There is a wooden model of the Old Vicarage, built in 1445 and still standing, in the museum’s Tudor display.

1. WEB: http://www.buckinghamoldgaol.org.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Buckingham Old Gaol Museum,
Market Hill,
Buckingham
MK18 1JX

3. TEL:
01280 823020

Calshot Castle

This artillery fort built by Henry VIII in 1540, to defend the sea passage to Southampton from foreign invasion, is located on Calshot Spit at the Solent, near Southampton. It comprises a circular blockhouse and three storey central keep and is similar in style to Pendennis Castle in Cornwall. It is said that the stones used to build it were taken from the ruins of the dissolved Bealieu Abbey.

Although it suffered damage from a fire in the reign of Elizabeth I, it was repaired and acted as a fully manned artillery base for more than 400 years. It even became part of RAF Calshot in the First and Second World Wars. It can still be enjoyed by visitors today, being cared for by English Heritage.

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/calshot-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Calshot Castle
Hampshire
SO45 1BR

3. TEL:
0370 333 1181

Camber Castle

Camber Castle, situated between Rye and Winchelsea, is an artillery fort built by Henry VIII between 1539 and 1543 to guard the port of Rye as part of his building programme of defences for the south coast. It was a rebuild and extension of an earlier fortification, built between 1512 and 1514, and comprised a large, concentric artillery fort with a central keep, four circular bastions and an entrance bastion. It was built to house a garrison of twenty-eight men, plus captain, and was equipped with twenty-eight artillery guns. Coastal erosion meant it was not in operation for very long and in 1637 it was finally closed by Charles I. It was a ruin by the 18th century, but it is an important ruin because it is an unaltered artillery fort.

The castle is only open for guided tours – see http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/camber-castle/prices-and-opening-times for information.

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/camber-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Camber Castle,
Rye,
East Sussex
TN31 7TD

3. TEL:
0370 333 1181

Canterbury Cathedral

Tudor England witnessed many turbulent years of religious reformation, and Canterbury Cathedral, as the Mother Church of England, experienced the full force of these political and religious events. The cathedral’s Christ Church Gate was completed by 1521, under Thomas Goldwell, the last prior of the cathedral priory. It served as the entrance for visitors, with an entry for vehicles and for pedestrians. Its elaborate decoration on the south side includes the arms of the Tudor dynasty. Thomas Becket’s Shrine continued to draw in thousands of pilgrims to Canterbury and the cathedral right up to the Reformation and Dissolution of the Monasteries, carried out under the Tudor King Henry VIII. The richly decorated shrine was located in the centre of the Trinity Chapel, giving visitors maximum opportunity to see or touch it. In September 1538, Henry VIII ordered the shrine to be dismantled, taking back with him gold and silver treasures. Today a candle marks the spot where the shrine of St Thomas once stood.

The monastery was dissolved in 1540, and in 1541 the king created the ‘New Foundation’ of Christ Church Canterbury through a royal charter. He appointed Dr Nicholas Wotton as the new Dean. Wotton was a diplomat as well as a churchman, and had helped to negotiate the marriage between Henry VIII and Anne of Cleves. His tomb was erected in 1570 in the Trinity Chapel, a space until then usually reserved for royalty and archbishops. The monument represents an innovation in style: it has no canopy, and the figure of Wotton is shown kneeling in contemplation rather than lying out as though on his deathbed.

Under the Catholic queen, Mary I, Catholicism returned to the cathedral, but never to its original extent. Queen Mary is remembered in Canterbury for burning forty Protestants at the stake during the counter-reformation south of the City in Wincheap. She also had the rood screen on its beam under Bell Harry replaced which had newly carved and gilded figures of Christ, Mary and John. This screen was later removed under Elizabeth I.

Highlights include:

- • The 12th century quire and Trinity Chapel with beautiful stained glass windows associated with St Thomas

- • The 11th century crypt

- • The historic walled precincts

- • The 14th century nave, which is “one of the most magnificent surviving examples of English Perpendicular Gothic”

- • “The Martyrdom”, where Thomas Becket was murdered

- • Bell Harry Tower

1. WEB: http://www.canterbury-cathedral.org/

2. ADDRESS:
Cantebury Cathedral,
Cathedral House,
11 The Precincts,
Canterbury,
Kent
CT1 2EH

3. TEL:
01227 762862

Carisbrooke Castle

Carisbrooke Castle is a symbol of the legacy of the threat of the Spanish Armada. Sailing within perilous proximity to Carisbrooke Castle, the fleet posed a risk of capture so palpable that it threatened the whole of the Isle of Wight, which in turn saw Carisbrooke Castle strengthened from the site of a Saxon fort into something much more impressive.

Sir George Carey, a governor of Carisbrooke under the reign of Elizabeth I, was responsible for a massive fortification programme, which included a strengthening of earthworks on the site. As a former capital of the Isle of Wight, Carisbrooke was a strategic location and was subject to many adaptations throughout the centuries, which result in the castle that visitors enjoy today. Over twelve centuries of alterations are amalgamated in modern day Carisbrooke and a vast array of building styles are reflected in its current form. Carisbrooke Castle also boasts a substantially restored 13th century chapel, which has been recently preserved as a memorial to King Charles I, who spent an entire year incarcerated at the castle.

Highlights include:

- • Restored 13th century chapel

- • The castle’s resident donkeys, who have been drawing up water in the well-house for hundreds of years.

- • Demonstrations of the 16th century tread wheel used to raise the water.

- • The Edwardian style Princess Beatrice Garden

- • The spectacular views from the ancient castle keep

- • The exhibition in the guardhouse and Carisbrooke Castle Museum

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/carisbrooke-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Carisbrooke Castle,
Castle Hill,
Newport,
Isle of Wight
PO30 1XY

3. TEL:
0370 333 1181

Cowdray House

Cowdray House lies just to the east of the lovely West Sussex town of Midhurst. Visitors will love the “classic” appearance of its twin Tudor towers in a style seen in much larger places such as Hampton Court Palace. Sadly, this great Tudor house was largely destroyed by a fire in September 1793. Luckily, it was of a good stone construction and it is these ruins that remain today.

Cowdray house has a fascinating Tudor history. In the 1520s, Henry VII’s uncle, Sir David Owen, began construction of the building on the site of the former home “Coudreye”, which he had acquired upon the death of his wife Mary Bohun in 1496. Just nine years later, his son Henry sold the estate to Sir William Fitzwilliam and by 1533 Henry VIII had granted a licence to Fitzwilliam’s trustees for 600 acres of meadow, pasture and wood and allowed him to build fortifications.

Henry VIII himself made three visits to the house during his reign, in August 1538, July 1539 and August 1545. The house was later visited by Henry’s son, Edward VI, in July 1552, and by Henry’s daughter, Elizabeth I, in August 1591. Others of interest staying in the house include Mary of Guise, widow of James V of Scotland, who stayed a night at Cowdray in October 1551, and Margaret Pole, 8th Countess of Salisbury, who was imprisoned at Cowdray from November 1538 until September 1539.

Highlights include:

- • Panoramic views from the tower

- • Extensive ruins

- • Hand-held audio tour-guides that bring the ruins to life

1. WEB: http://www.cowdray.co.uk/historic-cowdray/

2. ADDRESS:
Cowdray House,
Midhurst,
West Sussex
GU29 0AY

3. TEL:
01730 812423

Deal Castle

The imposing circular battlements of Deal Castle provide a magnificent contrast to the stunning coastal views beyond. The castle, which is considered as “one of the finest Tudor artillery castles in England”, was built at the command of Henry VIII, following the dissolution of his marriage to Catherine of Aragon. Henry feared retaliatory attacks on England from the powers of France and Spain, fervent supporters of his former wife, and so formulated an entire series of defensive structures. Strategically placed to provide maximum protection from seaward advances from continental Europe, Deal Castle and its two counterparts, Walmer and Sandown, formed a formidable line of defence along the otherwise open coast of the county of Kent and came to be known as the “Castles in the Downs”. Proving to be an effective deterrent, this most elaborate of artillery castles inspired a network of fortifications that eventually came to span the southern coastline.

The stunning location of Deal Castle and its fascinating history at the centre of one of the most turbulent periods in English history combine to make a visit especially rewarding. With the entire building now accessible to the visitor, it really is a historical gem.

Highlights include:

- • The audio tour of the castle and officers’ quarters

- • The dark passages that wind through the huge bastions

- • The interactive exhibition

- • Views across the coast from the castle’s bastions

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/deal-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Deal Castle,
Marine Road,
Deal,
Kent
CT14 7BA

3. TEL:
0370 333 1181

Dorney Court

Dorney is the site of an ancient settlement and sits within view of Windsor Castle and across water meadows from the River Thames. The village takes its name from the Anglo-Saxon meaning ‘Island of the Bumblebee’, and honey has long been associated with the area. At the heart of the village, sheltered by traditional English woodland sits Dorney Court, Grade 1 listed and widely regarded as one of England’s finest Tudor manor houses.

Although the house appears to be of a classic Tudor timber and brick design with steepling chimneys and sweeping gables, the history of the court pre-dates Henry VII. The twelfth century church of St James, which stands to the west, suggests that the site of the current building has been inhabited for 1,000 years or more, and archaeological surveys confirm that today’s house is merely the most recent in a string that must have occupied this prized strategic position within a day’s ride of the royal court in London.

The parlour is the outstanding Tudor room in the house and includes a priest’s hole connecting to an underground passageway leading to safety in the parkland. The great hall, with its linen fold panelling, barrel-vaulted ceiling and portraits, presents a magnificent centrepiece, while the bedrooms and dining room exhibit charm and reflect the tastes of the Palmer family who have lived at Dorney since the reign of James I.

The house is open to the public in August and also by private appointment.

1. WEB: http://www.dorneycourt.co.uk

2. ADDRESS:
Dorney Court,
Dorney Lane,
Windsor
SL4 6QP

3. TEL:
01628 604638

Dover Castle

Commanding an unparalleled location high above Dover’s white cliffs, Dover Castle is a stunning example of a great medieval fortress. Yet it is not only the environs of the castle that are imposing. The castle itself, established by King Henry II, is a phenomenal structure. At its centre, is the great tower, an enormous keep, which stands at over 25m in height and is a colossal 30m square.

Defence was everything in the creation of Dover Castle, with some of the walls of the great tower being up to 6.5m in thickness: a true stronghold facing out across the English Channel to France and the continent beyond. Many such keeps were constructed in the 11th and 12th centuries, but few are as impressive as Dover. Such was the strength of the castle that it was garrisoned without interruption for a period of 900 years, a record only equalled by the Tower of London and Windsor Castle, which puts Dover up there amongst the most significant of Britain’s military buildings.

The stronghold remained a pivotal part of British defences up until 1945, and it was continually updated in direct response to each British skirmish within Europe. Dover Castle was also host to many royal visitors, entertaining Henry VIII, Elizabeth I, and Charles I’s queen consort, Henrietta Maria.

Highlights include:

- • Henry II’s great tower, Peverell’s Tower and gatehouse

- • The medieval tunnels, which were also used in the Napoleonic Wars and Second World War

- • Views of the white cliffs of Dover from the battlements

- • WWI fire command post and gun drills every weekend

- • Underground hospital

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/dover-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Dover Castle,
Castle Hill,
Dover,
Kent
CT16 1HU

3. TEL:
01304 211067

Firle Place

Although the present Firle Place is very much 18th century in its appearance, the manor house actually dates back to the late 15th century, when it was built on the site of an earlier manor house by courtier Sir John Gage, a man who served King Henry VIII as comptroller of the household and constable of the Tower of London, and Mary I as lord chamberlain. He died at Firle Place in April 1556.

The façade of Caen stone, which probably came from the dissolved Priory of St Pancras at Lewes, was added in the 18th century by Sir William Gage, 7th Baronet, who inherited Firle in 1713. However, the interior of the house is very much Tudor and is set around a central courtyard.

Highlights include:

- • The Tudor interior

- • The screen of fluted Ionic columns in the drawing room, which was designed by William Kent.

- • The long gallery

- • The house’s collection of art, which includes paintings by old masters such as Raphael, Fra Bartolommeo, Domenico Puligo, Carlo Dolci and Jacopo Pontormo, and furniture

1. WEB: http://www.firle.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Firle Place,
Firle,
Lewes,
Sussex
BN8 6LP

3. TEL:
01273 858307

Greys Court

Greys Court is a pretty country house situated in the Rotherfield Greys estate in the Chiltern Hills, near Henley-on-Thames. The history of Greys Court dates back to at least the 11th century, but the earliest surviving part of the building is part of the great tower, which dates back to the late 11th or early 12th centuries. In 1346, Sir John de Grey, nephew of Walter de Grey, Archbishop of York, who had once owned the property, was granted a licence to crenelate and so set about fortifying the manor and other estate buildings. In the 14th century, the manor passed to the Lovell family through marriage, and it was that family who added a timber-framed wing to the house. Greys Court was confiscated from Francis Lovell in 1485 after Lovell fought against Henry VII at Bosworth.

In 1514, Greys Court was granted to Robert Knollys and his wife Lettice for the rent of a red rose. Their son, Francis Knollys, married Catherine Carey, daughter of Mary Boleyn and cousin of Elizabeth I. Francis served Elizabeth I as a privy councillor and Catherine served her as chief lady of the bedchamber. It was Francis who demolished the medieval manor house and rebuilt it as an Elizabethan country house fit for a queen to visit, although Elizabeth I never did visit the house.

The house was renovated in the 18th century, which included the addition of some elaborate plasterwork decoration, and further changes were made in the 20th century.

Highlights include:

- • The late 11th/early 12th century great tower

- • A rare Tudor donkey wheel

- • The walled gardens, which are set amid medieval ruins, and which include a kitchen garden, wisteria walk and rose garden

- • The kitchen, which is the oldest part of the Tudor house

- • The 16th century Swiss stained glass panels at the top of the main staircase

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/greys-court/

2. ADDRESS:
Greys Court,
Rotherfield Greys,
Henley-on-Thames,
Oxfordshire
RG9 4PG

3. TEL:
01491 628529

Hampton Court Palace

The beautiful riverside Hampton Court Palace started off as a manor that was built for the Knights Hospitallers of St John Jerusalem in the 13th century. The manor was the central part of a large farm estate that had been designed to provide money to support crusaders in the Holy Land.

In 1514, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey obtained the palace on a ninety-nine-year lease and began transforming it from a private house into a huge palace fit for a king. Wolsey built the palace to impress the whole of Europe, and it was a wonderful fusion of Catholic iconography and Renaissance art and architecture, with an incredible long gallery, a huge new entrance courtyard, new chapel and cloister, and hundreds of fine tapestries.

When Cardinal Wolsey fell from favour in 1529, Henry VIII took possession of the palace, and he and his intended bride, Anne Boleyn, spent the equivalent of many millions of pounds in today’s money (some say 18 million), turning Hampton Court into the palace of their dreams.

As well as entertaining the royal court and providing a home for Henry VIII, Anne Boleyn and Henry’s subsequent wives, the palace was also the setting of key events in Tudor history – the birth of Edward VI (son of Jane Seymour and Henry VIII), the death of Jane Seymour from suspected puerperal fever, the house arrest of Catherine Howard, the marriage of Henry VIII and Catherine Parr, Mary I’s acceptance of Philip II of Spain’s marriage proposal and her confinement in 1555.

Although the palace has undergone many changes over the centuries and suffered from fire damage, much of the palace so loved by Henry VIII still exists today.

Highlights include:

- • Henry’s great hall with its amazing tapestries

- • The haunted gallery – said to be haunted by Henry VIII’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard

- • Tudor paintings – found in the Wolsey rooms and Tudor state apartments

- • The palace maze – mind you don’t get lost!

- • Tudor kitchens – the place where over 1,200 meals a day were produced for Henry VIII’s court

- • The beautiful chapel royal

- • Anne Boleyn’s Gatehouse and Clock Court, with its extraordinary astronomical clock

- • The gardens – Enjoy the beautiful Privy Garden, Great Fountain Garden, Chapel Court and much, much more

1. WEB: www.hrp.org.uk/HamptonCourtPalace/

2. ADDRESS:
Hampton Court Palace
East Molesey
Surrey
KT8 9AU

3. TEL:
0844 482 7777

Hever Castle

The beautiful Hever Castle, situated in the lovely Kent countryside in England, dates back more than 700 years but was lovingly restored in the early 20th century by William Waldorf Astor, a wealthy American.

The oldest part of this charming castle was built in about 1270 and was owned by William de Hever, a sheriff under King Edward I. This medieval castle was made up of a huge gatehouse and walled bailey, which were surrounded by a moat, for defence, and entered by a wooden drawbridge. When the “Bullen” family took control of the castle in the 15th century, they added a Tudor house inside the castle walls.

Sir Thomas Bullen, later known as Boleyn, inherited Hever Castle from his father Sir William Bullen in 1505 and made it into a family home for his wife, Elizabeth Howard, and three children – Mary, Anne and George. The castle is famous for being the childhood home of Anne Boleyn, second wife of King Henry VIII, who was executed in 1536 after being queen for just 1,000 days.

After the death of Thomas Boleyn in 1538, the castle fell into the hands of Henry VIII, who gave it to his fourth wife, Anne of Cleves, when their marriage was annulled in 1540. Anne of Cleves lived at Hever Castle as “The King’s Sister” until her death in 1557, when it was bought by Sir Edward Waldegrave. The castle remained in the Waldegrave family for 160 years until it was deemed too small for James Waldegrave, ambassador to France and 1st Earl Waldegrave. The castle was sold in the early 1700s to Sir William Humphreys, Lord Mayor of London (1714) and remained in the Humphreys family until 1749 when it became owned by Sir Timothy Waldo.

Sadly, as Hever Castle was passed through the Humphreys, Waldo and Meade-Waldo families it gradually declined and was in a very sorry state by the end of the 19th century and probably would have turned into an uninhabited ruin if William Waldorf Astor had not stepped in and bought it in 1903. Astor set about renovating the castle with the intention of enlarging the property into a Tudor-style “village” without detracting from the castle or ruining it. The grounds of Hever Castle were landscaped under the direction of Joseph Cheal to allow for a wide range of shrubs and trees to be planted and a two-year excavation project in the meadows and marshland at Hever resulted in a beautiful 35 acre lake. The castle is now owned by Broadland Properties Ltd who own and maintain the castle and grounds.

Highlights include:

- • The double moated castle with its priest hole and secret chapel

- • The collection of Tudor portraits

- • Anne Boleyn’s Book of Hours

- • The gardens - Tudor, rose and Italian gardens

- • The lake and walks

- • Armour and exhibition of instruments of torture

1. WEB: http://www.hevercastle.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Hever Castle,
Hever,
Edenbridge,
Kent
TN8 7NG

3. TEL:
Tel. 01732 865224

Hurst Castle

Hurst Castle is a well-preserved example of the artillery forts built by Henry VIII to defend southern England from foreign invasion, and is actually regarded as “one of the most advanced artillery fortresses in England”. It was built in 1544 and is located at the end of a long, narrow, shingle spit at the west end of the Solent and gives views of the Isle of Wight on clear days. It looks very much like it did in the 16th century, apart from the huge wing batteries that were built either side of it in the 19th century.

It has undergone alterations and modernisations throughout its 400+ year history, but the bulk of the Tudor fortress still survives today.

Highlights include:

- • The gun tower of two storeys and a basement

- • The outer wall, with its semi-circular bastions

- • Its thick walls, which are typical of Henry VIII’s coastal artillery forts

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/hurst-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Hurst Castle,
Saltgrass Ln,
Milford on Sea,
Hampshire
SO41 0TP

3. TEL:
0370 333 1181

Ightham Mote

This moated manor house, described by historian David Starkey as “one of the most beautiful and interesting of English country houses”, and scholar Nikolaus Pevsner as “the most complete small medieval manor house in the country”, was built in the early 14th century and added to it in the 15th and 16th centuries. During its 700+ year history, it has belonged to medieval knights, courtiers to King Henry VIII and upper class Victorians.

Highlights include:

- • The porter’s squint – a narrow slit in the wall used by the gatekeeper to view visitors’ credentials

- • Its open loccia, with 15th century gallery above.

- • The great hall

- • The crypt

- • Tudor painted ceiling

- • Tranquil gardens with formal garden, orchard, pleasure gardens, lakes, water features and woodland walks

- • Views from the tower

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ightham-mote/

2. ADDRESS:
Ightham Mote,
Mote Rd,
Ivy Hatch,
Sevenoaks
Kent
TN15 0NT

3. TEL:
01732 810378

King John’s House and Heritage Centre

King John’s House and Heritage Centre, set in Romsey, Hampshire, comprises three historic buildings covering 750 years of history: the medieval half-timbered King John’s House, the Tudor cottage and the Victorian museum.

King John’s House was once thought to be a hunting lodge used by King John, but it is now known to date back to the mid 13th century, after the death of King John. Its size and the fact that it was partly built using stone from the royal quarry at Quarr, suggests that it was owned by an important person, and it was once the main building of a complex of medieval buildings. It is known that it was used by members of King Edward I’s court when the king visited Romsey in 1306.

The Tudor cottage dates to the late Tudor/early Jacobean period and is a timber-framed property. Its upper floor has been furnished to give visitors a taste of that period, and its lower floor is Miss Moody’s Tudor Tea Room.

The Victorian museum teaches visitors about aspects of life in the Victorian and Edwardian eras and features a reconstructed old gunshop and parlour upstairs.

Highlights include:

- • The 14th century graffiti, which includes coats of arms and a profile of King Edward I, and rare bone floor in King John’s House

- • Beautiful period gardens, which include pre-18th century plants, Victorian terrace and fountain courtyard

- • The collection of historical artefacts from the Romsey area

1. WEB: http://kingjohnshouse.org.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
King John’s House and Heritage Centre,
Church St,
Romsey,
Hampshire
SO51 8BT

3. TEL:
01794 512200

Knole

This former archbishop’s palace is located within a 1,000-acre medieval deer park in the parish of Sevenoaks in Kent. The oldest part of the house dates back to 1456, when it began to be built by Thomas Bourchier, Archbishop of Canterbury, and on his death in 1486 it was bequeathed to the See of Canterbury. Later additions included a large courtyard, Green Court, and an entrance tower. It remained an archbishop’s palace until 1538, when King Henry VIII took it from Archbishop Thomas Cranmer. In Elizabeth I’s reign it was granted to Thomas Sackville, and is still owned by his descendants today.

Highlights include:

- • Paintings by Reynolds, Gainsborough and Van Dyck, and portraits of famous 16th and 17th century characters like John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland

- • 17th century tapestries

- • 17th century royal state furniture, including pieces from Whitehall and Hampton Court Palace, and silver from the court of Louis XIV of France

- • The beautiful showrooms

- • Kent’s last medieval deer park, with its 350-strong wild deer herd

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/knole/

2. ADDRESS:
Knole,
Sevenoaks,
Kent
TN15 0RP

3. TEL:
01732 462100

Leeds Castle

In 1119, the first stone fortification was built where Leeds Castle stands today. In 1278, Eleanor of Castile, Edward I’s much-loved queen, bought Leeds Castle. Between 1515 and 1523 Leeds Castle was transformed from fortified stronghold to magnificent royal palace for the use of King Henry VIII and his wife Catherine of Aragon. The principal apartments were in the gloriette and an upper floor was added. Fireplaces decorated with the royal arms and Spanish motifs suggest that this floor was reserved for the exclusive use of the queen. In what is now the Catherine of Aragon room, there was once a fireplace displaying the royal arms entwined with lovers’ knots.

The best documented royal visit to Leeds was in 1520, when Henry, with the queen and a huge retinue of over 5,000 people, spent a night at the castle on his way from Greenwich to northern France for a ceremonial meeting with Francis I of France. This meeting became known from its magnificence as the Field of Cloth of Gold and was part of unsuccessful diplomatic attempts by Francis to woo the English away from their alliance with the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V. Royal records show that venison from the Leeds Castle park and butter from the dairies were supplied for use at the meeting.

Finally in 1552, after nearly 300 years in royal ownership, Leeds was granted to Sir Anthony St Leger by Edward VI’s protectors in recognition of his conciliatory work in Ireland for Henry VIII.

Today, visitors can view the rooms used by Henry VIII to entertain his court including the largest room in the castle, the Henry VIII banqueting hall, retaining much of the style of the Tudor period including the installation of the carved beams of the ceiling and the polished ebony floor with its double-dovetailed joints. Perhaps the most significant addition was the 16th century French Caen stone fireplace, with its carved figures, lions and grotesque heads. The banqueting hall also contains some important paintings, furniture and sculpture.

The chapel contains a missal book that belonged to Catherine of Aragon, containing religious texts, while the gatehouse exhibition contains a missal box said to have belonged to Anne Boleyn. The missal box is shaped like a small treasure chest complete with its original key. It was used for storing and carrying a missal, a book that contained essential texts for the liturgical year. This box was designed to be portable. It has two hooks along one side for threading a ribbon for tying to a belt. Charles Wykeham Martin, owner of Leeds Castle (1841-1870, describes this missal box as proof of Henry VIII’s presence at the castle. In his book on the history of the castle published in 1869 he writes: “there can be no doubt of his having been there, as we have a casket, left behind by Anne Boleyn, which is not likely to have found its way there in any other manner.” It is probably French and dates to around 1500 with later gilding and ribbon. It was bequeathed to the Leeds Castle Foundation on the death of Fiennes Fairfax Wykeham Martin in 1984.

Highlights include:

- • Historic tours of the castle

- • Its 500 acres of parkland

- • Weekend falconry displays

- • The gatehouse exhibition, which takes you on a fascinating journey through nearly a thousand years of the castle’s history

- • Yew maze and underground grotto

- • Punting on the moat

- • Dog collar museum, a collection of collars which spans five centuries

1. WEB: http://www.leeds-castle.com/home

2. ADDRESS:
Leeds Castle,
Maidstone,
Kent
ME17 1PL

3. TEL:
01622 765400

Littlecote House

This large Elizabethan country house is now owned by Warner Leisure Hotels. Littlecote House Hotel takes great pride in its romantic Tudor history as it was here that Jane Seymour was said to have been courted by Henry VIII in 1535. The house’s great hall commemorates their union with a stained glass roundel featuring a lovers’ knot and the couple’s initials. The real enthusiast will be aware that this courtship did in fact take place some months prior to the execution of Henry’s current wife, Anne Boleyn, a fact which arguably lessens the romance but in no way dampens the pride that the hotel takes in this most famous of romantic liaisons.

The excavations of Littlecote Roman Villa can be found in the grounds.

Highlights include:

- • Littlecote Roman Villa, with its Orphic Hall and Roman mosaic

- • The great hall, with its stained glass window celebrating the romance of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour

- • The Cromwellian guard room and chapel from the Civil War period

- • Rooms where the D-Day landings were planned

- • Medieval banquets, which can also be booked by non-residents

1. WEB: http://www.warnerleisurehotels.co.uk/hotels/littlecote-house-hotel/overview/

2. ADDRESS:
Littlecote House Hotel,
Hungerford,
Berkshire
RG17 0SU

3. TEL:
01488 682509

Loseley Park

This Elizabethan manor house, situated close to the North Downs in Surrey, was built in 1562 by Sir William More. Little has changed since the 16th century, so it really is like stepping back in time.

The house was built using honey-coloured stone from the dissolved Cistercian monastery of Waverley Abbey, and the panelling in the great hall is believed to have been taken from Henry VIII’s Nonsuch Palace. It was visited by Queen Elizabeth I on four occasions and also had a visit from James I.

Highlights include:

- • The great hall

- • The drawing room, with its fireplace designed by Holbein and its beautiful gilded ceiling

- • Its collection of portraits – Anne Boleyn, Elizabeth I, Edward VI, and many more

- • The gardens, including walled garden and rose and herb gardens

- • Tithe barn, with its ancient oak beams

1. WEB: http://www.loseleypark.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Loseley Park,
Guildford,
Surrey
GU3 1HS

3. TEL:
01483 405120

Mapledurham Estate

The Mapledurham estate dates back to beyond the 11th century and was recorded in the Doomsday Book as two separate manors, Mapledurham Gurney and Mapledurham Chazey, belonging to two different families. However, the Mapledurham House that can be seen today dates back to the reign of Elizabeth I, when Sir Michael Blount raised a loan of £1,500 to build the red brick manor. Sir Michael’s son, Richard, completed the building in 1612 and also bought Mapledurham Chazey manor, thereby extending the estate.

Highlights include:

- • Mapledurham House – a typical Elizabethan country house. Can you spot the oyster shells on the gable at the back of the house? This was a sign that the house was a safe refuge for Catholics

- • The Old Watermill – the only remaining operational watermill on the Thames. See its 15th century roof and wall timbers

- • The 13th century St Margaret’s Church

1. WEB: http://www.mapledurham.co.uk/index.php

2. ADDRESS:
Mapledurham Estate,
Mapledurham,
Reading
RG4 7TR

3. TEL:
0118 972 3350

Mary Rose Museum

Few historical objects capture the spirit of an age in the way that Henry VIII’s flagship, The Mary Rose, does.

A symbol of Tudor power and status, and the emblem of English naval might, The Mary Rose was, in her heyday, a most beautiful vessel: a 500 ton, 32m carrack-type timber warship. The jewel in the crown of the English naval fleet, The Mary Rose saw much active service before her tragic demise, acting as Henry VIII’s flagship in both his first and second wars against France. In all, The Mary Rose served the English fleet for over thirty years.

Her active service meant that it was necessary for her to be re-fitted at least twice, a fact reflective of her central importance to the fleet. However, perhaps inevitably, The Mary Rose’s triumphs ultimately ended in tragedy when, during the Battle of the Solent in 1545, she was sunk. Henry VIII, who had come to watch his fleet’s departure from the vantage point of Southsea Castle, witnessed the demise of his beloved flagship and with her the loss of her 700 crew. Apparently lost to the ocean forever, The Mary Rose was in fact discovered by divers in the 1970s and was finally raised once more into the light of day in 1982.

An enormous operation to lift her from the ocean floor was only the beginning of the labour of love it has taken to salvage The Mary Rose’s remains and to preserve her over 19,000 artefacts forever. The Mary Rose and the artefacts found in her wreck can be found in The Mary Rose Museum, a multi-award winning museum located in Portsmouth. The museum opened in May 2013, replacing an older museum.

Highlights include:

- • The Mary Rose ship, now preserved for future generations to enjoy

- • Artefacts recovered from the wreck – weapons, musical instruments, tools, medical equipment, personal belongings, etc.

- • Interactive displays, e.g. test your strength with Tudor weapons

1. WEB: http://www.maryrose.org/

2. ADDRESS:
The Mary Rose Museum,
Main Rd,
HM Naval Base,
Portsmouth
PO1 3PY

3. TEL:
023 9281 2931

Historic Oxford

Martyrs’ Memorial, Oxford

Martyrs’ Memorial can be found in the city of Oxford, at the end of St Giles Street. It reminds visitors to Oxford of the lives of three courageous men, Protestants Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, Bishop Nicholas Ridley and Bishop Hugh Latimer, who were burned at the stake for heresy during the reign of Mary I. The inscription on the memorial reads:

To the Glory of God, and in grateful commemoration of His servants, Thomas Cranmer, Nicholas Ridley, Hugh Latimer, Prelates of the Church of England, who near this spot yielded their bodies to be burned, bearing witness to the sacred truths which they had affirmed and maintained against the errors of the Church of Rome, and rejoicing that to them it was given not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for His sake; this monument was erected by public subscription in the year of our Lord God, MDCCCXLI.

It doesn’t mark the real spot of their executions, a cross of cobblestones has been set into the road in Broad Street to mark that spot.

The University Church of St Mary the Virgin, which is located in the nearby High Street, was the site of the trial of Archbishop Cranmer on 12th September 1555.

Christ Church College

Christ Church College, Oxford, is the largest of Oxford University’s colleges and was founded by Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Henry VIII’s lord chancellor, as Cardinal’s College in 1525 following the suppression of the Augustinian Priory of St Frideswide. Wolsey had not finished building it when he fell from power and it fell into King Henry VIII’s hands. Although it was suppressed in 1531, it was refounded in 1532 by the king as King Henry VIII’s College and then, in 1546, refounded again as Christ Church. The former priory church became the cathedral of Oxford – Christ Church Cathedral. In the Stuart era, King Charles I chose to reside in Christ Church College, using the great hall for his parliament.

There have been many changes and additions to Christ Church over the centuries, including the addition of Tom Tower to Cardinal Wolsey’s Great Quadrangle by Sir Christopher Wren in 1682. Oxford is known as “the City of Dreaming Spires”, and Tom Tower is one of these famous spires.

Other Oxford sights include the 13th century Carfax Tower, the Museum of Oxford, which guides visitors through the city’s 2,000 year history, the other Oxford colleges, the Ashmolean Museum, and the Bodleian Library.

1. WEB: http://www.chch.ox.ac.uk/
http://www.oxfordcity.co.uk/

Penshurst Place

Penshurst Place played a prominent part in the lives of royalty and those close to the crown in Tudor times. Formerly owned by the 3rd Duke of Buckingham, the 14th century manor house and its lands became forfeit to the Tudor crown in 1521 when the duke was beheaded for treason. Henry VIII, as the new owner, used the property as a hunting lodge and, given its proximity to Hever Castle, may well have visited Anne Boleyn at her childhood home during their courtship.

The Penshurst estate was gifted to Sir William Sidney by Edward VI in 1552. The young king wanted to reward his faithful chamberlain for his many years of service. Sir William’s wife Anne had been the king’s governess and his son Henry his loyal friend. It is said that it was in Henry’s arms that the king died in his sixteenth year. Sir Henry Sidney married Mary Dudley, sister of Sir Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester. Henry inherited the estate when his father died some two years after taking possession of the estate. Mary was lady-in-waiting to Elizabeth I and she nursed the queen through smallpox, unfortunately catching the disease herself in the process. However, fortunately, both women survived. Elizabeth I often visited Penshurst. Indeed, one of the rooms in the apartments known as The Buckingham Building is known as the Queen Elizabeth Room, as it was here that the queen would give audience during her visits.

To commemorate the gift of Penshurst Place to his father, Sir Henry Sidney built a grand entrance to the front of Penshurst Place, known as the King’s Tower. He also built an extensive range of Tudor red brick apartments, which form the private apartments of the present-day building.

Sir Henry’s eldest son, Sir Philip Sidney, poet, soldier, and one of Elizabeth’s ‘favourites’, was thought to be the ‘Ideal Renaissance Man’. He was instrumental in the building of the Italian-style arched loggia on the ground floor of the private apartments following his travels in Europe. Sir Philip died following a leg wound in battle in 1585, and it was his brother Robert who inherited the property later that year. Sir Robert went on to be granted the Earldom of Leicester by James I in 1618, some thirty years after the title had expired after Sir Robert Dudley died without legitimate issue.

Highlights include:

- • The baron’s hall, which was described by the writer John Julius Norwich as “one of the grandest rooms in the world”

- • The west solar, with its collection of paintings, including La Volta, which depicts Elizabeth I dancing

- • The beautiful tapestries of the tapestry room

- • The magnificent long gallery

- • Forty-eight acres of grounds, which include formal gardens with an Italian garden, heraldic garden, garden tower, rose garden, magnolia garden and orchard

- • Arboretum, trout lakes, Lake Park and Lancup Well

1. WEB: http://www.penshurstplace.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Penshurst Place,
Penshurst,
Kent
TN11 8DG

3. TEL:
01892 870307

Sandgate Castle

Sandgate Castle was one of a chain of device forts built on the south coast by Henry VIII to protect England from invasion by France and the Empire. It was built between 1539 and 1540, using stone from a dissolved monastic site, and it is interesting in that the accounts for its building costs are still available in Letters and Papers, Foreign and Domestic, Henry VIII, and its total cost was £5,584.7s.2d. The castle comprised a three-storey central keep surrounded by two concentric curtain walls, with three smaller round towers on the inner curtain wall and a three-storey gatehouse on the outer curtain wall. It was designed to provide up to four tiers of guns.

It was visited by Henry VIII, Elizabeth I and Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, and was held by Parliamentary forces in 1642 before being taken by Royalists in 1648. It was damaged by the sea in 1616 and 1716, and was flooded in 1875, leading to it being abandoned in 1881. It was further damaged by the Great Storm of 1950. However, new sea defences were built to protect it and although it is now a private house it can still be viewed from the beach.

1. ADDRESS:
Sandgate Castle,
Castle Rd,
Sandgate,
Folkestone,
Kent
CT20 3AG

Sandown Castle, Kent

Sandown Castle, Kent, was one of the artillery forts constructed by Henry VIII on the south coast as part of his device programme. It was built between 1539 and 1540, in a similar design to that of Walmer Castle, and comprised a keep and four circular bastions. It became badly effected by coastal erosion and so was demolished in the late 19th century and little of it remains today. Don’t go out of your way to visit it, as you may be disappointed, but if you’re in the area then you can pop along and see the remains.

It should not be confused with Sandown Castle, Isle of Wight, which was also a device fort built by Henry VIII in 1545, and which was also demolished due to coastal erosion.

1. ADDRESS:
Sandown,
Kent

Shurland Hall

Shurland Castle dates back to the late 9th century when King Hoestan of Denmark built earthworks on the site of a former Roman fort. It is believed that the castle or fortified manor house he built was the birthplace and residence of the early English kings.

The castle passed into ownership of the Cheyne (Cheney) family in the late 15th century. Sir Thomas de Cheyne built Shurland Hall on the site of the former castle, using stone from Chilham Castle. The hall was a proper Tudor manor house and had a chapel, stables, well house, gardens, mews, kennels and offices.

Sir Thomas was a favourite of King Henry VIII and in 1532 Shurland received a visit from the king and Anne Boleyn, who was to become his second wife, when they were on their way to France to meet Francis I. In 1582, Sir Thomas’s son, Sir Henry Cheyne, a wastrel who squandered his inheritance, surrendered Shurland to Queen Elizabeth I, who then granted it to Sir Edward Hoby in 1593. In the reign of James I the estate was granted to Sir Philip Herbert, who was made a baron, and the Herbert family were still residing in the hall in 1713.

The last time that the hall was used as a residence was during World War I when soldiers were billeted there. After that it fell into disrepair. In 2006 the hall received a £300,000 grant to restore its façade and gatehouse. It is privately owned and is not open to the public, but its exterior can be appreciated.

More information can be found at http://www.sheppeywebsite.co.uk/index.php?id=64

1. ADDRESS:
Shurland Hall,
Isle of Sheppey,
Kent
ME12 4BN

Sissinghurst Castle Garden

Sissinghurst Castle dates back to the 13th century when a small moated manor house was built on the site. The only part of that manor that still exists today is the moat, but other buildings date back to the 1550s, when Sir John Baker bought the land and built a gatehouse, and to the 1560s when his son Richard built a new manor house constructed around three successive courtyards with a prospect tower at their centre. Mary I visited it in 1557 and Elizabeth I stayed there for three days in August 1573.

By 1756, the house had fallen into disrepair after being used as a prisoner-of-war camp during the Seven Years’ War, and in the late 18th century the majority of what was left of the house was destroyed by fire. Fortunately, the Elizabethan tower still stands today.

In the 1930s, poet and writer Vita Sackville-West and her husband Harold Nicolson fell in love with Sissinghurst and began work on the garden, creating a series of garden ‘rooms’. The National Trust acquired the property in 1967 and have researched the couple’s original design so that their vision can be recaptured for today’s visitors.

Highlights include:

- • Panoramic views from the top of the tower

- • The tower, which served as Vita’s workroom

- • The working farm

- • The 450 acre estate, with its wildlife and walks

- • The garden and vegetable garden

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sissinghurst-castle-garden/

2. ADDRESS:
Sissinghurst Castle Garden,
Biddenden Rd,
Cranbrook,
Kent
TN17 2AB

3. TEL:
01580 710701

Southsea Castle

Southsea Castle was built on the orders of King Henry VIII in 1544, and was an active military base for over 400 years. It was built in a revolutionary Italian design, where rounded towers and bastions were replaced by straight walls, meeting to form pointed, or angled, bastions. These presented the minimum target to enemy guns, while defenders could fire along the length of the walls of an angled bastion, leaving no ‘dead ground’ where attacking troops could shelter. The original Tudor gun ports in the walls of the keep can be seen.

The design of the castle was put to the test when, on 18th July 1545, the French fleet rounded the Isle of Wight and entered the Solent. The following day The Mary Rose went down with nearly 700 men on board, witnessed by Henry VIII himself. While in Portsmouth, the king no doubt inspected Southsea Castle closely. Alarmed about its ability to withstand a sudden assault, he ordered a number of modifications. By the end of Henry’s reign in 1547, Southsea Castle, heavily armed with a total of seventeen guns, was a formidable fortress.

Southsea Castle was an active military base for over 400 years, with a long and chequered history, it was often badly neglected, but its key position defending the approaches to Portsmouth Harbour ensured that whenever foreign danger threatened it had to be updated to meet the demands of new developments in artillery and fortifications.

Highlights include:

- • Panoramic views from the top of the keep to the Isle of Wight and Solent

- • The 19th century tunnel built to defend the castle moat

- • The gun platforms

1. WEB: http://www.southseacastle.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Southsea Castle,
Clarence Esplanade,
Portsmouth
PO5 3PA

3. TEL:
023 9282 7261

The Vyne

This beautiful Tudor country house located by the Shir Brook in Sherborne St John was built in the reign of Henry VIII by Henry’s lord chamberlain, William, Lord Sandys. Although the Vyne has gone through various changes, including the addition of the classical portico on the north front by Inigo Jones in 1654 and the Palladian staircase added in the mid 18th century by John Chaloner Chute, it still retains much of its Tudor charm. The Tudor chapel has Renaissance stained glass and 16th century Flemish Majolica tiles.

Highlights include:

- • The well-preserved Tudor house with its original Tudor furniture

- • The gardens with their colourful herbaceous borders, 17th century summerhouse, 18th century walled garden and ornamental lake

- • Woodlands and wetlands

- • The Tudor chapel

- • Its portraits and 16th century stained glass windows which depict previous owners and royals

- • Tapestry room

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/vyne/

2. ADDRESS:
The Vyne,
Vyne Road,
Sherborne St John,
Basingstoke,
Hampshire
RG24 9HL

3. TEL:
01256 883858

Upnor Castle

Begun in 1559 and redeveloped at the turn of the 17th century, Upnor Castle is a rare example of an Elizabethan artillery fort, and was constructed with triangular and rectangular bastions, rather than the more common circular ones. Its peaceful waterside location means that the castle stands in stark contrast to its surroundings, offering a real sense of its imposing presence.

Upnor was originally created with the specific aim of providing protection to the nation’s warships which, when at home, were docked at nearby Chatham Dockyards. Its structure is exceptionally well-preserved and it is only slightly altered from its original design by Sir Richard Lee. Upnor’s decline meant that the castle was redeployed as a naval ‘magazine’, which necessitated the changes that were made. Specific threats to the Medway may have dissipated by this point, however its decline may also be linked to a spectacular failure of defence when, in 1667, a Dutch fleet sailed past its fortifications and up the Medway where it proceeded to burn and to capture substantial vessels of the English fleet.

Highlights include:

- • Tranquil Medway location

- • 16th and 17th century gatehouses

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/upnor-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Upnor Castle,
Upper Upnor,
High Street,
Rochester
ME2 4XG

3. TEL:
01634 718742

Walmer Castle

Built by Henry VIII as one of the number of fortresses designed to defend the Kent coastline against attacks from supporters of Catherine of Aragon in France and Spain, Walmer Castle is arguably the most attractive of Henry’s defensive structures.

After many hundreds of years of adaptations, Walmer is now a beautiful stately home that retains many of its original, more militarised, features including a wooden drawbridge by which the castle is still accessed. Constructed in 1540, Walmer may owe some of its domestic beauty to its designation as the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports’ official residence. Set along the stunning Kent coastline, Walmer boasts a place of significance in British history. The Duke of Wellington resided there for over twenty years and the arm-chair in which he died is on fact on display at Walmer, along with a pair of boots that inspired what was to become known as “wellies”. More recently Walmer was regularly visited by HM Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother.

The combination of Walmer’s unique royal history and its glorious setting, which includes extensive gardens and woodlands, ensure that a visit to Walmer is a joy for history enthusiasts and those interested in the most elegant of English homes.

Highlights include:

- • The Queen Mother’s Garden in the 19th century walled garden

- • The wooden drawbridge

- • Beautiful sea views

- • Extensive gardens and woodland walk

- • Wellington’s Room – with Wellington’s arm-chair and his ‘Wellington boots’

- • The castle, with its multimedia guide

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/walmer-castle-and-gardens/

2. ADDRESS:
Walmer Castle,
Kingsdown Rd,
Walmer,
Deal,
Kent
CT14 7LJ

3. TEL:
01304 364288

Weald and Downland Museum

For a real taste of Tudor working and domestic life, step back in time with a visit to the Weald and Downland Open Air Museum, which contains a huge collection of historical buildings that have been officially designated as of national importance.

Nestled in the stunning rural Sussex countryside, this museum spans an enormous 40 acres and encompasses fifty structures dating from the 13th to the 19th centuries. The enormous display of farm buildings at the Weald and Downland Museum include barns, cattle sheds and stables, all uniquely preserved to allow the visitor a true sense of agricultural architecture through the ages. Also on display are a huge range of houses, working buildings and buildings used as public spaces, which have all been dismantled from their original site and accurately reconstructed here. Of particular interest to the Tudor enthusiast is the Upper Hall from Crawley, a public meeting place circa 1500 with a large communal gallery. There is also a programme of domestic and craft demonstrations, which includes cooking in the Tudor kitchen, milling flour in the working watermill and blacksmithing in the Victorian smithy.

In addition to the buildings on display, the museum boasts a collection of over 15,000 artefacts designed to illuminate the everyday lives of people throughout the ages. The museum also runs adult-education courses and special event days inspired by their collections, e.g. Christmas Market, Wood Show and Rare & Traditional Breeds Show.

Highlights include:

- • Winkhurst Tudor kitchen

- • Medieval houses and cottages

- • Medieval shop

- • Treadwheel from Catherington

- • Upper Hall from Crawley

- • Domestic and craft demonstrations – watch Tudor-style food being cooked and even taste it

- • Authentic period gardens

1. WEB: http://www.wealddown.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Weald and Downland Museum,
Town Lane,
Chichester,
West Sussex
PO18 0EU

3. TEL:
01243 811363

Whitehall Museum

Whitehall is a historic timber-framed Tudor house dating back to around 1500 which is now open to the public as a museum. Although its weather-boarded frontage dates to the 18th century, it hides a two-storey wattle and daub jetty building, which is believed to have been a yeoman farmer’s house.

Highlights include:

- • Its wooden mullioned windows

- • The Nonsuch Palace exhibition, which includes a miniature model of the palace and fragments from the original building discovered during the 1959 archaeological dig

- • The Graffiti Door, which dates back to the time of the English Civil War and which has graffiti with Catholic and Royalist associations

- • The well in the garden, which is thought to have been dug in around 1400.

1. WEB: http://www.friendsofwhitehallcheam.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Whitehall,
1 Malden Road,
Sutton
SM3 8QD

3. TEL:
020 8770 5670

Windsor Castle

Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world and has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years. It is an official residence of Her Majesty The Queen and is still very much a working royal palace today, home to around 150 people. The castle is used regularly for ceremonial and state occasions, including state visits from overseas monarchs and presidents.

Some of the greatest treasures in the Royal Collection can be seen in the castle’s magnificent state apartments. The Royal Archives, the Royal Photograph Collection, the Print Room, and the Royal Library are all based here.

Windsor Castle is also home to St George’s Chapel, the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter – the oldest order of chivalry in the world, founded by Edward III in 1348. Today, the Order consists of the Queen, the Prince of Wales and twenty-four Knight Companions.

The Queen spends most of her private weekends at Windsor Castle and takes up official residence for a month in the spring for Easter Court, and for a week each June, when she attends Royal Ascot and the service of the Order of the Garter.

Although the Tudors made relatively minor additions and alterations to the fabric of the castle, the dynasty was closely associated with Windsor – one of Britain best-known kings, Henry VIII, is buried in St George’s Chapel alongside his third and favourite wife Jane Seymour. By the reign of Elizabeth I, many parts of the castle were in need of repair and an extensive campaign of work was undertaken in the 1570s. The timber terrace (today the North Terrace), from which Henry VIII would practise shooting at targets and watch the hunt in the park below, was entirely renewed in stone, and a long gallery was built to provide the queen with a place to walk during inclement weather – this was incorporated into the Royal Library during the 19th century.

Highlights include:

- • St George’s Chapel – the spiritual home of the Order of the Garter and the resting place of Edward IV and Elizabeth Woodville, Henry VI, Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Charles Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, Charles I, and many more

- • The State Apartments – in these magnificent state apartments you will find paintings by masters like Rembrandt, Rubens, Canaletto and Gainsborough, and many other fine pieces from the Royal Collection

- • Queen Mary’s Dollshouse – this dolls house took three years to finish and has electric lighting, flushing toilets and running hot and cold water!

- • The Drawings Gallery – exhibitions of material from the Royal Library

1. WEB: https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/windsorcastle

2. ADDRESS:
Windsor Castle,
Windsor and Maidenhead,
SL4 1NJ

3. TEL:
020 7766 7304

LONDON

Eltham Palace

Initially built as a moated manor house set within extensive parkland, Eltham Palace is one of a very small number of significant English medieval royal palaces to survive with substantial remains intact.

The manor of Eltham is first mentioned in the Domesday Book as belonging to Odo, Bishop of Bayeux, and half-brother of William the Conqueror. In 1295 it is recorded as belonging to Anthony Bek, Bishop of Durham, who appears to have rebuilt the manor house and added a perimeter wall within the manor’s moat. In 1305, the bishop presented it to the future Edward II, who later granted it to his wife, Queen Isabella. The couple’s son, John, was born and baptised at Eltham.

A new drawbridge, service buildings and new royal lodgings were added during the reign of Edward III, but it was during the reign of Edward IV that significant changes were made to the palace, due to the palace being his favourite residence. The most substantial addition was that of the great hall, which was completed in the 1470s and remains visible today.

For a time, Eltham Palace became the main residence of Henry VIII. He spent much of his childhood there and, as an avid sportsman, enjoyed the range of sporting events that were held within the palace’s parklands. In 1517, Henry added a tiltyard to the east of the palace, and then new royal lodgings and a chapel in the 1520s. Henry VIII was to be the last monarch to spend significant time, or indeed money, at Eltham, and Eltham declined as Hampton Court Palace and Greenwich became more popular. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Eltham was used as a farm and in the 19th century a residence called Eltham Court was built.

In the 1930s, the wealthy Courtaulds took a ninety-nine-year lease on the estate and had an impressive Art Deco home built on the site of the 19th century buildings. In 1995, English Heritage took responsibility for the site and a substantial restoration programme saved both the original palace and its Art Deco addition for the nation’s future enjoyment. Today, the balance between Art Deco and medieval offers a unique experience for visitors.

Highlights include:

- • The medieval great hall, with its glorious hammer beam roof and minstrels’ gallery

- • The famous 1930s Art Deco house, which English Heritage describes as “one of the finest examples of Art Deco architecture and design surviving in Britain today”

- • Its 19 acres of beautiful gardens, with herbaceous borders, sunken rose garden and rock garden.

- • Cross the moat on London’s oldest working bridge.

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/eltham-palace-and-gardens/

2. ADDRESS:
Eltham Palace,
Court Yard,
Eltham,
Greenwich,
London
SE9 5QE

3. TEL:
0370 333 1181

The Golden Hinde

For the ultimate Tudor experience, London’s life-sized recreation of Sir Frances Drake’s legendary ship, The Golden Hinde, offers the visitor a chance to step back in time.

As the only surviving vessel of an epic adventure, which aimed to ensure that Englishmen were the first to circumnavigate the globe, The Golden Hinde became Drake’s flagship, forever linked with him and with the might of British naval forces. Following the ship’s triumphant return in 1577, Elizabeth I decreed that the vessel should be preserved for the public, in order to honour Drake’s achievements.

The legend of The Golden Hinde is one of power and riches. The charter bestowed by Elizabeth I gave Drake permission to plunder the vessels of England’s enemies, ensuring that upon its return The Golden Hinde held the treasures of the Spanish ship Cacafuego, where once there had been a more modest ballast.

Britain’s first museum ship has remained ever since. Although the original was lost to decay in the late 17th century, this replica, built in 1973, is an accurate recreation, which allows the visitor to stand on the deck as Elizabeth I herself did at the knighting of that Tudor legend Sir Frances Drake.

Highlights include:

- • Sleep-over on The Golden Hinde - spend the night aboard the vessel on one of the family living history tours and live as a member of Drake’s crew

- • Guided tours - costumed specialists bring Drake’s crew’s experiences to life with their expertise in 16th century warfare

- • Journey through time tour - a must for the Tudor enthusiast, this unique tour combines a visit to the nearby Shakespeare’s Globe Exhibition, a private guided tour of the Globe Theatre & Rose Theatre archaeological site, and a private guided tour of The Golden Hinde

1. WEB: http://www.goldenhinde.com/

2. ADDRESS:
The Golden Hinde
St Mary Overie Dock
Cathedral Street
London
City of London
SE1 9DE

3. TEL:
08700 118700

Historic Greenwich

Historic Greenwich in south-east London is known for Greenwich Mean Time (GMT), its maritime history and for being the site of Greenwich Castle and Greenwich Palace (Palace of the Placentia), birthplace of Henry VIII and Elizabeth I.

Historic Greenwich – The Royal Observatory

Home of Greenwich Mean Time and the Prime Meridian of the World, the Royal Observatory stands on the site once occupied by Greenwich Castle (Mirefleur). The castle was constructed as a moated tower in 1433 by Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, and converted and enlarged into a twin towered house by King Henry VIII in the 16th century, who used it because it was near the Palace of Placentia (Greenwich Palace).

The Royal Observatory was commissioned by King Charles II in 1675, completed in 1676 and is now part of the National Maritime Museum. It is home to London’s only planetarium, the country’s largest refracting telescope and the Harrison timekeepers, and is the official starting point for each new day, year and millennium.

Highlights include:

- • The Prime Meridian - Visitors can stand in both the eastern and western hemispheres simultaneously by placing their feet either side of the Prime Meridian.

- • The Observatory galleries

- • The Planetarium

- • Christopher Wren’s Flamsteed House with its public camera obscura

1. WEB: www.nmm.ac.uk/places/royal-observatory/

2. ADDRESS:
Royal Observatory
Blackheath Avenue,
Greenwich,
London
SE10 8XJ

Historic Greenwich – The Queen’s House

This 17th century house was commissioned by Anne of Denmark, wife of James I who was often at Greenwich staying at Greenwich Palace. Legend has it that the king gave Anne the manor of Greenwich to say sorry for swearing at her in public when she accidentally shot one of his favourite dogs while hunting. Anne commissioned Inigo Jones to design a new pavilion for her at Greenwich, but unfortunately she died before it was completed in 1635, in the reign of Charles I. The house underwent many changes over the centuries, but restoration work carried out by the National Maritime Museum in the 20th century saw it being lovingly restored to its 1660s glory. It is now home to the museum’s fine art collection and exhibitions.

Highlights include:

- • Inigo Jones’s fine architecture

- • The tulip stairs

- • The great hall, with its marble floor and painted ceiling

- • The museum’s fine art collection, which includes work by Gainsborough, Lely, Hogarth, Reynolds, Hodges and the van de Veldes, and also a Tudor collection

1. WEB: www.nmm.ac.uk/places/queens-house/

2. ADDRESS:
Queen’s House,
Greenwich,
London
SE10 9NF

Historic Greenwich – The Old Royal
Naval College

The former site of Greenwich Palace is now home to the Old Royal Naval College, which is known for its dramatic and magnificent Baroque architecture. It was built as the Royal Hospital for Seamen at Greenwich (Greenwich Hospital) between 1692 and 1712, and was designed by Christopher Wren and completed by Hawksmoor, Van Brugh and James “Athenian” Stuart. The hospital closed in 1869 and the Royal Naval College took over the site, using it as a training base for naval officers from all over the world.

Highlights include:

- • The amazing Baroque architecture

- • The landscaped grounds

1. WEB: The painted hall and chapel
www.oldroyalnavalcollege.org

2. ADDRESS:
The Old Royal Naval College,
Greenwich,
London
SE10 9LW

3. TEL:
020 8269 4747

Hall Place

Hall Place, situated on the banks of the River Cray in Bexley, Kent, was built in 1537 for Sir John Champneys, a wealthy merchant and former Lord Mayor of London, on the site of an earlier manor house, and used stone from the dissolved Lesnes Abbey. It was built to a traditional hierarchical plan and comprised a great hall, service wing and family accommodation, including a great chamber and parlour. It was renovated in 1649 by Robert Austen, a merchant from Tenterden, Kent, who added a second red-brick wing with staircase tower and prospect room. He also added the beautiful plasterwork ceiling of the great chamber. Further alterations were made in the 18th century, including the addition of a lodge, parquet flooring and wood panelling. Despite later additions, much of what Sir John Champneys built in the 16th century still survives today.

Highlights include:

- • The 65 acres of gardens, which include wildflower meadows, herbaceous borders, Italianate garden, walled gardens and topiary

- • The Bexley Heritage Trust museum

- • The beautiful 16th century manor house

1. WEB: http://www.bexleyheritagetrust.org.uk/hallplace/

2. ADDRESS:
Hall Place & Gardens,
Bourne Road,
Bexley,
Kent
DA5 1PQ

3. TEL:
01322 526 574

Lambeth Palace

Lambeth Palace has been the official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury since 1200AD. It remains the London home of the current archbishop and is the central office of the Church of England’s ministry, both nationally and internationally.

Although medieval in its origins, Lambeth Palace is recognisable by Morton’s Tower, the imposing red-brick Tudor gatehouse that was built by Cardinal John Morton around 1490. The building’s twin five-storey battlement towers form the current entrance to the palace and its grounds, and are a stunning example of Tudor architecture. Although Morton himself resided in the tower for a time, its most famous Tudor resident was Sir Thomas More, who is believed to have lived there from the age of twelve, when he joined the staff to be educated in the workings of a significant household. It was also the residence of Oxford martyr Archbishop Thomas Cranmer, who was burned at the stake in the reign of Mary I.

Now home to the gatekeeper, the tower also houses a book restoration centre and storage for some of the palace library’s collection of 230,000 books, texts and manuscripts.

The grounds of the palace also offer a wealth of history, including fig trees planted by the last of the Catholic archbishops, Cardinal Reginald Pole, in the 16th century.

Highlights include:

- • Lollard’s Tower - a small prison which held the Lollards, followers of John Wycliffe, in the 16th century

- • The guard room - originally dating from the 14th century, the guard room was the great chamber in Tudor times and one of the palace’s most significant rooms

- • The great hall - currently home to much of the palace’s library, the great hall was where Henry VIII was entertained by Archbishop Cranmer

The Palace can be visited by booking an individual or group guided tour. See http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/pages/guided-tours-.html

1. WEB: http://www.archbishopofcanterbury.org/pages/about-lambeth-palace.html

2. ADDRESS:
Lambeth Palace,
Lambeth Palace Road,
London
SE1 7JU

3. TEL:
020 7898 1200

Palace of Westminster

The ancient area of Westminster is home to the Palace of Westminster (Westminster Palace) and the present day Houses of Parliament, and has been home to ecclesiastical buildings and seats of kingship and power since the Middle Ages.

The medieval Palace of Westminster houses Old and New Palace Yards, with the former connecting the palace with Westminster Abbey. Prior to 1547, the Commons were without a permanent home in which to meet, but following the dismissal of the canons of St Stephen’s (members of a college that had held the services for the royal family) during the reign of Edward VI, the Commons were given the palace’s St Stephen’s Chapel on a permanent basis.

Henry VIII enjoyed Westminster as the location of one of his most luxurious courts - furnished in the most magnificent style, with numerous state rooms, a chapel and a gallery - but abandoned the palace in favour of York Place (Whitehall) in 1530, paving the way for the permanent establishment of the House of Commons.

Westminster Hall, with its stunning hammer beam roof, has been used for many different purposes during its 900+ year history:

- • Banquets and feasts, including marriage feasts and coronation banquets – Anne Boleyn had a coronation banquet there in 1533 and James II had his there in 1685

- • Disguisings, including three disguisings held to celebrate the marriage of Prince Arthur and Catherine of Aragon in 1501

- • Jousting tournaments

- • Trials – including that of William Brereton, Henry Norris, Francis Weston and Mark Smeaton for treason and adultery with Queen Anne Boleyn in 1536

In 1834, a fire destroyed both Houses of Parliament and the majority of the palace complex, only Westminster Hall, the jewel tower, the undercroft chapel, the cloisters and the chapter house of St Stephen’s survived. In 1836, the Royal Commission chose the Gothic style plans of Charles Berry for the new palace and the work was finally completed in the 1870s.

The palace was damaged again during the Second World War, and rebuilding work was carried out and completed in 1950.

Highlights include:

- • Westminster Hall - the only part of the ancient Palace of Westminster to survive in almost original form. It dates back to 1097-99

You can find out more about visiting the Houses of Parliament, and how to book a tour of the Houses of Parliament, including the Commons and Lords Chambers and historic Westminster Hall, at:

http://www.parliament.uk/visiting/visiting-and-tours/

1. ADDRESS:
Palace of Westminster,
Westminster,
London
SW1A 0AA
United Kingdom

2. TEL:
020 7219 3000

The Rose Playhouse

London Bankside’s Rose Theatre pre-dates the famous Globe theatre. It was originally built in Bankside, London, by Philip Henslowe in 1587 and performances staged there include Shakepeare’s Titus Andronicus and Henry VI Part 1, and Marlowe’s Doctor Faustus. Remains of the Rose Theatre were discovered in 1989 and a campaign, “Save the Rose”, was launched to protect the site from redevelopment.

At present, two thirds of the original foundations have been excavated and protected, and a viewing platform allows visitors to see red rope lights that mark out the site and show the size of the theatre, its courtyard or pit, and the locations of its two stages. There are also poster factsheets giving information about the theatre and Bankside in the late 1590s and early 1600s. The Rose Theatre Trust is fundraising to carry on the archaeological work and to make the site a permanent display to educate future generations. In 2007, part of the Rose site was opened as a performance space, known as the Rose Playhouse, and it now hosts a programme of award-winning productions.

There are regular events and open days held at the site, as well as a programme of lectures and workshops.

1. WEB: http://www.rosetheatre.org.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
The Rose Playhouse,
56 Park Street,
London
SE1 9AR

3. TEL:
020 7261 9565

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre

Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in Bankside, London, was built in 1987 by American director and actor, Sam Wanamaker. Wanamaker built it as a memorial to the original Globe Theatre, which was built in 1599 by the Lord Chamberlain’s Men, William Shakespeare’s playing company, and which sadly perished in a fire on 29th June 1613 during a performance of Henry VIII when a cannon misfired and set fire to the wooden beams and thatching. It was rebuilt in 1614 and Wanamaker used surviving records of the 1599 and 1614 buildings to build his theatre.

Visitors to Shakespeare’s Globe today can enjoy its special exhibition, which makes use of traditional crafts and modern technology to bring the Elizabethan world of Shakespeare to life, and a tour of the theatre and auditorium. Visitors can also book to see Shakespeare’s plays performed at the Globe, or plays by modern writers.

1. WEB: http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre,
21 New Globe Walk,
Bankside,
London
SE1 9DT

3. TEL:
020 7902 1400

St James’s Palace

St James’s Palace, located in the City of Westminster, London, is the official residence of the British sovereign and is also the senior palace of the sovereign. It has a long history as a royal palace, dating back to 1531 when a water meadow near Westminster came into Henry VIII’s possession. On this land was a 13th century hospital for leprosy sufferers known as the Hospital of St James. Upon acquisition, Henry replaced the hospital with his own red-brick residence, which was smaller than nearby Whitehall and designed as a more private royal residence or hunting lodge. Henry named the residence St James’s House and it subsequently became known as St James’s Palace.

Much of the original building survives today. Built in the same imposing red brick of Hampton Court Palace, St James’s stood as a status symbol of the king and his power. It was remodelled in 1544, with Hans Holbein the Younger painting some ceilings. The gatehouse, the chapel royal, a number of turrets and two Tudor rooms in the state apartments all remain today. The gatehouse still bears Henry VIII’s ‘HR’ cypher surmounted by his crown, and the initials ‘HA’ (for Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn) in a lovers’ knot are displayed on two Tudor fireplaces in the state apartments.

St James’s Palace was a royal residence for monarchs for over 300 years and has been the backdrop to many significant historical events. It was the place of death of Henry Fitzroy, Duke of Richmond and Somerset and illegitimate son of Henry VIII, in 1536, and also of Mary I in 1558. It was also where Mary I signed the treaty surrendering Calais to France in 1558. Elizabeth I stayed at the palace in 1588 when England was threatened by the Spanish Armada, and it was from there that she departed London to deliver her famous speech to the troops at Tilbury. The Stuart kings Charles II and James II were also born and baptised at the palace.

Today, the palace is a working royal palace serving as a London residence of The Prince of Wales, The Princess Royal and Princess Alexandra, as well as being used for entertainment for state visits. It is, therefore, not open to the public, but visitors can stroll around the exterior and view the architecture, including the Tudor gatehouse.

Highlights include:

- • The Tudor gatehouse

- • The Queen’s Chapel – this 17th century chapel is accessible to the public for some sung services.

1. WEB: http://www.royal.gov.uk/TheRoyalResidences/StJamessPalace/StJamessPalace.aspx

2. ADDRESS:
St James’s Palace,
Marlborough Road,
London
SW1A 1BS

3. TEL:
20 7930 4832

Sutton House

This three-storey Tudor manor house, set in Homerton High Street, Hackney, was built in 1535 by Sir Ralph Sadler, secretary to Thomas Cromwell and later King Henry VIII, and was known at the time as “the bryk place”. After Sadler and his family, its occupants included merchants, Huguenot silk weavers, Victorian schoolmistresses, Edwardian clergy and squatters, and it even served as a school. Although its occupants did make alterations, such as dividing the house into two residences in the 1750s, Sutton House is still at heart a Tudor building and its rooms transport visitors back in time to the 16th century. It is the oldest residential property in Hackney.

Sutton House’s restoration was completed by the National Trust in the 1990s and it is fully open to visitors.

Highlights include:

- • Original oak-panelled rooms

- • Original carved fireplaces

- • Its charming courtyard

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sutton-house/

2. ADDRESS:
Sutton House,
2 and 4 Homerton High Street,
Hackney,
London
E9 6JQ

3. TEL:
020 8986 2264

Syon House

Situated in its 200 acre park, Syon House has been the London home of the dukes of Northumberland for over 400 years. The site was originally home to a medieval abbey, established in the 14th century by the Swedish mystic St Bridget. It was one of the largest great abbeys to be constructed. Dedicated to the Bridgettine Order and founded by King Henry V in 1415, Syon Abbey was renowned for its public preaching, its spiritual learning and its library.

As a place favoured by King Henry VIII’s first wife, Catherine of Aragon, Syon became enveloped in the religious turmoil that surrounded the king’s divorce and the subsequent naming of himself as Supreme Head of the Church in England. The king’s supremacy over religion in England was not accepted by the Father Confessor of the nuns, Richard Reynolds, who met a brutal execution in 1535. As a message to others, the body of Reynolds, who was later canonised as a martyr, was placed at the abbey’s gateway. Syon Abbey was dissolved in 1539 by King Henry VIII and it became crown property. In November 1541, Henry VIII’s fifth wife, Catherine Howard, was taken to Syon and imprisoned there until 10th February 1542, when she was taken to the Tower of London. She was executed on 13th February 1542.

In 1547, King Henry VIII’s coffin was held overnight at Syon on its way to Windsor for burial. That night it is said that some liquid leaked out of the coffin and dogs licked it up. It was seen as fulfilment of a prophecy that Father Peto had made in his Easter Sermon of 1532. Peto, who supported Catherine of Aragon, warned the king that if he carried on the way he was, he would end up like King Ahab and dogs would lick up his blood. It was also seen as divine judgement for Henry’s desecration of Syon Abbey.

Syon was granted to Edward Seymour, Duke of Somerset, in 1547 and he set about transforming the abbey into an Italian Renaissance style private residence. William Turner, who was Somerset’s physician, was in charge of laying out the gardens and developing a plant collection. Somerset was executed in 1552. In 1594, Syon passed to Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland. His son, Algernon, surrounded the house with French-style formal gardens, and the house today is essentially the house the Percys would have known then.

Syon is still the London residence of the Duke of Northumberland and his family today.

Highlights include:

- • The Oak Passage, with its beautiful portraits, including one of Prince Arthur, brother of Henry VIII

- • The magnificent great hall and long gallery

- • The Ante Room, with twelve Ionic columns veneered in green scagliola

- • The Red Drawing Room, with Cipriani’s magnificent painted ceiling

- • The interiors that are regarded as “Robert Adam’s best examples of neo-classical splendour”

- • The gardens – landscaped by Capability Brown

- • The house’s collection of art and antiques

1. WEB: http://www.syonpark.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Syon House,
Syon Park,
Brentford,
Middlesex
TW8 8JF

3. TEL:
020 8560 0882

Tower of London

The Tower of London, or Her Majesty’s Royal Palace and Fortress as it is officially called, is famous for being the site of much bloodshed and for being the prison of many hundreds, if not thousands, of people since it was first built by William the Conqueror in the late 11th century, but it has had many different roles during its 900 year history: fortress, prison, royal palace, armoury, mint, place of execution, home of the royal menagerie, jewel house and resting place.

In Tudor times, the Tower of London was used as a prison. Notable prisoners included Anne Boleyn and the five men condemned to death for committing adultery with her, Sir Thomas More and Bishop John Fisher, Thomas Cromwell, Catherine Howard and Lady Jane Rochford, Anne Askew, Thomas Cranmer, Lady Jane Grey and Guildford Dudley, Princess Elizabeth Tudor and Robert Dudley during Mary I’s reign, and Sir Walter Ralegh. However, it was not just a prison, it was also a royal palace complete with great hall and royal lodgings, which were used by a monarch traditionally before his/her coronation. Although that royal palace no longer stands, we know that it stood on the area between the Wardrobe and Lanthorn Towers.

The White Tower is home to the beautiful St John’s Chapel and also to the Royal Armouries, whose displays include a wide variety of Tudor treasures from the staff weapons of Henry VIII’s guard – from early breech-loading handguns to two of the King’s most iconic armours: the magnificent 1540 garniture and the delicately decorated Silver and Engraved Armour (1515).

Other highlights include:

- • The medieval palace – built by Henry III and Edward I in the 13th century

- • Traitors’ Gate – the notorious Tower entrance

- • The wall walk – see the Tower, Tower Bridge and the River Thames

- • Tower Green and the scaffold memorial

- • The Chapel of St Peter ad Vincula – not just the resting place of prominent Tudor people, including Anne Boleyn, but also a tranquil place of worship

- • The Beauchamp Tower, with its Tudor prisoners’ graffiti (carvings into the stone)

- • The Bloody Tower – traditionally thought to be the place where the Princes in the Tower were murdered, and the location of Sir Walter Ralegh’s room

- • The Crown Jewels

- • The ravens – legend has it that the kingdom and Tower will fall if the ravens ever leave the Tower, so seven ravens are kept at the Tower. Visitors can see their lodgings by the Wakefield Tower.

1. WEB: http://www.hrp.org.uk/TowerOfLondon/

2. ADDRESS:
Tower of London,
London
EC3N 4AB

3. TEL:
0844 482 7777

Westminster Abbey

Arguably the most significant location in Britain, in terms of the Tudor monarchs, the history of Westminster Abbey dates back to over 1,000 years. Originally a Benedictine Abbey established by St Dunstan in the 960s, the abbey as we know it today dates from the reign of King Edward the Confessor.

A complete reconstruction of the abbey was begun in the reign of Henry III in the 13th century, but only completed in 1517 when, under the reign of Henry VIII, the nave was finally finished. In the 1540s the monastery was surrendered as part of the dissolution of the monasteries and the abbey became the cathedral for the diocese of Westminster. This was a short-lived change, which was ended by the accession of Mary I in 1553 and the resurgence of the Catholic faith, which saw a community of monks reside in the abbey once more. Following the crowning of Elizabeth I, Westminster became a collegiate church with a dean and a chapter of twelve canons. With the exception of Henry VIII, all of the crowned Tudor monarchs are buried in Westminster Abbey.

For those who are interested in the present day royal family, Westminster Abbey was also the venue for the weddings of George VI, Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Margaret, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince William and Kate Middleton.

Highlights include:

- • The Coronation Chair – made on the orders of Edward I in 1300-1301

- • The shrine of St Edward the Confessor

- • The tombs of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, Elizabeth I and Mary I, Mary Queen of Scots, Lady Margaret Beaufort, Henry Carey, Catherine Carey, Anne Neville (wife of Richard III), Anne of Cleves, Charles II, Edward VI, James I and Anne of Denmark, Edward I and Eleanor of Castile, Henry V and Catherine de Valois, Richard II and Anne of Bohemia, and many more

- • The grave of the unknown soldier, which acts as a memorial to all those lost in war

- • Poets’ Corner – see the tombs of Geoffrey Chaucer, Edmund Spenser, Alfred Tennyson and Robert Browning, and memorials to William Shakespeare, Lord Byron, D H Lawrence, W H Audley, etc. Famous writers, including Charles Dickens, Rudyard Kipling and Thomas Hardy are also buried there

- • The Pyx Chamber – a low vaulted room dating back to 1070

- • The Chapter House – this octagonal chapter house dates back to the 1250s and is one of the largest in England

- • Westminster Abbey Museum – the museum has funeral effigies of famous people, including Henry VII, Mary I and one of Elizabeth I, which also includes a beautiful costume

1. WEB: http://www.westminster-abbey.org/

2. ADDRESS:
Westminster Abbey,
20 Dean’s Yard,
London
SW1P 3PA UK

3. TEL:
020 7222 5152

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Blickling Hall

Although Hever Castle is known as Queen Anne Boleyn’s family home, Anne was probably born in Blickling, Norfolk, in the early 1500s. The original Boleyn manor house no longer exists and a fine turreted red-brick house, built during the reign of James I, now stands on its former site.

Visitors may want to visit this National Trust property on 19th May, because Anne Boleyn’s ghost is said to haunt the hall on the anniversary of her execution. Apparently, a carriage pulled by headless horses with a headless coachman arrives at the hall and a headless Anne Boleyn gets out carrying her severed head. The ghostly Anne then roams the hall’s corridors until daybreak, when she disappears.

Blickling Hall is also said to be haunted by Thomas Boleyn, father of Anne, on the date of Anne’s execution. Thomas Boleyn died in 1539 and legend has it that as penance for the untimely deaths of two of his children he must cross twelve bridges before cock-crow on 19th May. With his ghostly coach of headless horses, he starts at Blickling and crosses bridges at Aylsham, Belaugh, Burg, Buxton, Coltishall, Hautbois, Meyton, Oxnead and Wroxham.

Highlights include:

- • The 123-foot long gallery which houses around 12,500 books and is “one of the most important book collections in the country”

- • The great hall, complete with reliefs of Anne Boleyn and her daughter, Elizabeth I, on the staircase

- • The stunning gardens with their parterre, orangery, temple and wilderness

- • The lake walk.

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/blickling-estate/

2. ADDRESS:
Blickling Hall,
Aylsham,
Norfolk
NR11 6NF

3. TEL:
01263 738030

Buckden Towers

Originally built as a home for the Bishops of Lincoln, Buckden Towers is a fortified manor house dating from the 12th century. The Great Tower, gatehouse and battlement walls that remain today are an attractive sight, but more attractive to the history enthusiast are the many illustrious visitors who have at one time or another used the house at Buckden as a base.

For a short period between the summers of 1533 and 1534, Buckden was the home of Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s first wife. Catherine is not the only famous Tudor linked with Buckden, however, as the house also played host to King Henry VIII and his fifth wife, Catherine Howard, in 1541.

Buckden Towers was subject to significant alteration in 1475, when it was further fortified with the addition of a moat, surrounding walls and the imposing brick tower that can be seen today. Its fortification may have been a decisive factor in its choice as a temporary royal residence. In addition to it famous Tudor visitors, Buckden Towers also played host to James I in 1619 and to the Prince Regent in 1814, in addition to housing bishops of Lincoln until as recently as the late 19th century.

Buckden Towers is now run by the Claretian Missionaries, as the Claret Centre, which is available for hire to groups and individuals for retreats, conferences, seminars and meetings.

1. WEB: http://www.buckden-towers.org.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
The Claret Centre,
The Towers,
High St,
Buckden,
St. Neots,
Cambridgeshire
PE19 5TA

3. TEL:
01480 810 344

Elizabethan House Museum

This ‘treasury’ of 16th century domestic history is housed within an Elizabethan quayside property in Great Yarmouth. Its aim is to lead visitors through the lives of the families who resided there from Tudor to Victorian times with hands-on activities.

Highlights:

- • The conspiracy room – was the death of Charles I plotted in that very room?

- • The museum’s extensive collection of historical artefacts and furniture – the furniture in the dining room dates from as early as the 1500s

- • The small but pretty walled garden

- • Hands-on activities for children, such as trying on Tudor costumes

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/elizabethan-house-museum/

2. ADDRESS:
Elizabethan House Museum,
4 S Quay,
Great Yarmouth,
Norfolk
NR30 2QH

3. TEL:
01493 855746

Framlingham Castle

Situated close to the beautiful Suffolk coastline, Framlingham Castle is an excellently preserved example of a 12th century fortress. In addition to a fascinating history, Framlingham is unique in terms of its structure. The majority of fortified buildings dating from this time are constructed with a central stronghold (a keep), but Framlingham differs from this in that its flint structure relied on a strong curtain wall and a series of towers for its predominant defences.

The central courtyard of the castle is accessible to visitors, as are the tops of its battlement walls, which have bridges constructed at intervals in order that the tops can be walked around, offering a spectacular vantage point and wonderful views across the mere.

Of particular interest to the Tudor enthusiast are Framlingham’s links with Mary I. Mary, daughter of Henry VIII, used Framlingham as her refuge prior to becoming queen, and she was at Framlingham when she was informed that she had been proclaimed queen on 19th July 1553.

Highlights include:

- • The wall walk, which gives views of Framlingham mere and the surrounding countryside

- • The 12th century and Tudor chimneys

- • The “Framlingham Castle: From Powerhouse to Poorhouse” exhibition

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/

2. ADDRESS:
Framlingham Castle
Church Street,
Framlingham,
Suffolk
IP13 9BP

3. TEL:
01728 724922

Hatfield House

Hatfield Old Palace was built in about 1485 by the Bishop of Ely, John Morton. It is one of the foremost examples of medieval brickwork in the country and originally formed a quadrangle around a central courtyard. The remaining wing contains the banqueting hall, with most of its original roof timbers. Many of them are peppered with gunshot, apparently because sparrows flew in and were shot at when the building was later used as stables.

Henry VIII acquired the palace from the Bishop of Ely in 1538 and used it as a nursery for his three children. It is with Elizabeth that the palace is most associated. She had a happy childhood there, sharing in her brother Edward’s education. Circumstances changed for Elizabeth when Queen Mary came to the throne in 1553, for Mary feared that her enemies might plot to place her Protestant sister on the throne. Effectively, Elizabeth was kept under house arrest at Hatfield.

In 1558, Elizabeth was sitting under an oak tree in the park when she learned of her succession to the throne. One of her first acts was to call her trusted advisers, including William Cecil, later Lord Burghley, together for her first council of state, which was held in the banqueting hall of the palace.

In 1607, King James I exchanged the palace at Hatfield for Theobalds, the home of Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury. Robert Cecil demolished three-quarters of the original building and built a fine Jacobean House adjoining the site of the Old Palace. The remaining wing survived as the stables for Hatfield House for the next three centuries, until it was restored by the 4th Marquess in 1915.

Highlights include:

- • The famous Elizabeth I Rainbow and Ermine Portraits, and other 16th century paintings

- • The 1611 elaborately carved staircase

- • The statue of King James I in the King James drawing room

- • The hat, gloves and stockings in the Long Gallery, which were traditionally believed to have belonged to Queen Elizabeth I

- • The library, with its collection of more than 10,000 volumes, dating from the 16th century to the present day

- • The extensive parkland and park walks

1. WEB: http://www.hatfield-house.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Hatfield House,
Hatfield,
Hertfordshire
AL9 5NQ

3. TEL:
01707 287010

Kentwell Hall

Kentwell Hall in Long Melford, Suffolk, is a gem of a building. Described by a former resident as “a little great house of magical beauty”, Kentwell has continued to enchant those who visit it for over 500 years.

Offering some of the most authentic recreations of Tudor life in the UK, Kentwell’s award-winning building and activities provide information, education and entertainment in equal measure. It really is a must-visit location for those with a passion for Tudor times. The hall itself and its surrounding moats remain largely unaltered, accurately reflecting the original 16th century design as overseen by its earliest residents, the Clopton family, who resided at Kentwell from the 14th century.

One of Kentwell’s unique attractions is its status as a living family home, with a vast majority of its rooms (still used by its residents) open to the public. Although Kentwell is an ongoing restoration project, as the family battle to preserve the hall and its treasures for the enjoyment of generations to come, this is much of Kentwell’s charm. Indeed, the recreations of Tudor life, which are a speciality at Kentwell and the hall’s biggest draw, focus on aspects of everyday domestic life within Kentwell and are unique in this sense as many recreations at other locations tend to detail more historically significant events such as battles.

Highlights include:

- • Tudor recreations of domestic life

- • Tours of the house

- • Extensive gardens, including a walled garden, ancient yews and cedars, and sunken garden

- • Rare breed farm

1. WEB: http://www.kentwell.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Kentwell Hall
Long Melford
Suffolk
CO10 9BA

3. TEL:
01787 310 207

Lavenham Village, Suffolk

The picturesque village of Lavenham in the beautiful Suffolk countryside is a veritable medieval and Tudor treasure trove.

Lavenham rose from humble beginnings to become the fourteenth richest town in England during the medieval era, an astonishing achievement for such a modest sized place and due in large part to its success as a centre of the lucrative wool trade.

This tiny village, whose population has never exceeded the 2,000 mark, invested its riches in creating a visually stunning place, boasting beautiful 15th century half-timbered buildings and the lovely parish church of St Peter and Paul. Lavenham’s treasures also include its Tudor guildhall and the Swan Hotel. The fascinating history of this lovely location can be toured in a rather unique way via the loan of audio tour equipment, which is available from the village pharmacy. It is also possible to download a guide book and map from the Lavenham website http://www.discoverlavenham.co.uk/

Visiting Lavenham is like stepping back in time, with its medieval crooked houses and narrow streets, but with its shops, restaurants, art galleries and pubs it also has everything a modern visitor could need.

Highlights include:

- • Half-timbered medieval buildings

- • The marketplace and Tudor guildhall

- • Audio tour

- • Tours and walks

- • The Lavenham Farmers’ Market, which is held on the fourth Sunday of every month

1. WEB: http://discoverlavenham.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Lavenham,
Sudbury,
Suffolk
CO10

Layer Marney Tower

Layer Marney, situated in the Essex countryside, is England’s tallest gatehouse and was built by Henry, Lord Marney, during the reign of Henry VIII, c. 1520. It was built as a statement of Lord Marney’s wealth, power and status, and although it was damaged in the 1884 Great Earthquake, subsequent repairs mean that it can still be enjoyed by visitors today.

The gatehouse is an impressive 80 feet in height and is taller than that of Hampton Court Palace. The double windows on each floor trick the viewer into believing the tower has eight floors when, in reality, it has only four, and the amount of glass is a display of just how rich the Marney family was. It also features ornate Italianate terracotta decorations and diaper patterns in the brickwork. It really is an imposing structure.

Highlights include:

- • A climb to the top of the tower, with its views over the Blackwater River and gardens

- • Tudor wood panelling

- • The portrait of Sir Brian Tuke, which is a copy of Holbein’s original

- • The formal gardens, complete with Tudor-style knot garden

- • The long gallery, with views over the gardens

- • The medieval church within the grounds

- • The wildlife walk and farm

1. WEB: http://www.layermarneytower.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Layer Marney Tower,
Layer Marney,
Nr. Colchester,
Essex
C05 9US

3. TEL:
01206 330 784

Melford Hall

Built on the site of a retreat which was enjoyed by the abbots of Bury St Edmonds from the 11th to the 16th centuries, Melford Hall is one of the most attractive examples of Elizabethan architecture in the United Kingdom. The hall’s fascinating octagonal turrets and astonishing number of chimneys mean that the roofline of Melford Hall is really quite something to behold.

Located in Long Melford, a Suffolk village close to the River Chad, Melford Hall as we know it today is thought to have been built by John Reeve, the last abbot of the Benedictine monastery of St Edmundsbury, and the next owner, Sir William Cordell, one of the ‘new men’ of the Elizabethan era. Cordell entertained Queen Elizabeth I at Melford in 1578.

The hall has a long connection with the Hyde Parkers, an English family with a long and decorated naval tradition who bought the house from Cordell’s descendants in 1786. The Hyde Parker family still reside in the hall today.

The hall was looted during the English Civil War and tragically gutted by a fire in the Second World War, which raged through the hall’s north wing and destroyed much of the roof. However, it was rebuilt after the war and although the interior is not Tudor it still retains its Tudor brickwork.

The hall offers much to the visitor, from guided tours to family events, which often centre on a Beatrix Potter theme, as the author was a regular visitor to Melford.

Melford Hall is now managed and maintained by the National Trust, who has held responsibility for its preservation since 1960.

Highlights include:

- • Beatrix Potter watercolours, which were painted during the author’s time at Melford

- • Melford Hall park walk – a 1-mile picturesque walk in the surrounding parkland

- • An art trail to explore the faces behind the family portraits

- • Fine collections of art, porcelain and furniture

- • The hall’s landscaped gardens and rare orchid species

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/melford-hall/

2. ADDRESS:
Melford Hall,
Long Melford,
Sudbury,
Suffolk
CO10 9AA

3. TEL:
01787 376395

Oxburgh Hall

Oxburgh Hall is a stunning 15th century, moated, crenelated manor house set in the Norfolk countryside. It was built in 1482 when Sir Edward Bedingfield was granted a licence to crenelate, and the Bedingfield family still reside in it today.

The Bedingfields were a Catholic family so the house, with its secret priest’s hole and private chapel, bears witness to their faith. It also has a striking Tudor gatehouse, with a circular brick staircase, which is home to the king’s and queen’s rooms where Henry VII and his consort Elizabeth of York stayed on their visit to the manor. The priest’s hole was constructed in the garde-robe, i.e. lavatory, just off the king’s room.

Highlights include:

- • The Oxburgh/Marian Hangings – needlework created by Mary, Queen of Scots, and Bess of Hardwick between 1569 and 1584

- • Wildlife woodcarving trails in the gardens and woodland

- • Panoramic views from the gatehouse roof

- • The priest’s hole, which visitors can crawl into

- • The gardens with French-style parterre, walled garden and colourful herbaceous borders

- • Tudor gatehouse

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/oxburgh-hall/

2. ADDRESS:
Oxburgh Hall,
Oxborough,
near Swaffham,
Norfolk
PE33 9PS

3. TEL:
01366 328258

Paycocke’s House

Paycocke’s House in the Essex town of Colchester is a beautifully preserved Tudor merchant’s house.

The oldest part of the house dates back to c. 1420, but the main house was built around 1509, the year Henry VIII came to the throne. It once had a third storey, but this was demolished soon after building and the present roof dates to 1588. Paycocke’s was built for wealthy merchant Thomas Paycocke and offers a fascinating insight into the enormous riches that could be accumulated by those individuals engaged in the sixteenth century cloth trade. It was built to impress, with the house’s exquisite panelling and intricate carved woodwork reflecting the status and the wealth of Paycocke.

The detail and level of decoration at Paycocke’s are some of the finest examples of Tudor craftsmanship to have been preserved anywhere in the United Kingdom, and the house is a must-see for those interested in Tudor history, especially those looking to gain insight into the domestic conditions of the time.

Highlights include:

- • The pretty cottage garden, which is perfect for a picnic or a game of croquet

- • The Tudor wall painting in the upper hall

- • The elaborate wooden carvings featuring dragons, jokers and heraldic symbols

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/paycockes-house-and-garden/

2. ADDRESS:
Paycocke’s House
25 West Street,
Coggeshall,
Colchester,
Essex
CO6 1NS

3. TEL:
01376 561305

Why not visit nearby 13th century monastic barn, Coggeshall Grange Barn, with its “cathedral-like inteior”, while you’re in the area too? Visitors can enjoy the Coggeshall Grange Barn and Paycockes circular walk, which takes you from the Barn, round to Paycocke’s House, via the Essex Way, and by footpath along the River Blackwater. See http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/article-1356405339369/

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/grange-barn/

2. ADDRESS:
Coggeshall Grange Barn,
Grange Hill,
Coggeshall,
Colchester,
Essex
CO6 1RE

3. TEL:
01376 562226

Peterborough Cathedral

In addition to standing as one of the finest architectural monuments in all of Britain, Peterborough Cathedral, formally known as the Cathedral Church of St Peter, St Paul and St Andrew, Peterborough, has a turbulent history unrivalled by any other ecclesiastical building. Its past ensures that Peterborough Cathedral stands as a symbol of resurgence and a hard won legacy that remains today.

Its origins stretch back over 1,350 years, with the site originally used for a monastery founded in 655AD by King Penda of Mercia before it suffered the first of its many attacks when the monastery was all but destroyed in a vicious raid by the Vikings. Undeterred, the monastery went on to its next incarnation as a Benedictine Abbey only to then suffer an attack by Hereward the Wake in 1069. But the site was not to be defeated and a new building was raised here only to then be destroyed by fire in 1116. The cathedral was once more rebuilt between 1118 and 1238, and it became the cathedral of the diocese of Peterborough in 1541. Although it suffered damage during the English Civil War, it is still standing today and continues to thrive and be loved and admired by large numbers of visitors each year.

Highlights include:

- • The grave of Catherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII

- • The cloisters

- • The history of the cathedral exhibition

- • The Catherine of Aragon Festival – a programme of events held annually around the anniversary of Catherine of Aragon’s burial on 29th January

1. WEB: http://www.peterborough-cathedral.org.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Peterborough Cathedral,
Peterborough
PE1 1XS

3. TEL:
01733 355315

Tilbury Fort

Situated as an imposing gatehouse to the Thames estuary, Tilbury Fort has protected London via its seaward approach since the 1500s and still played a pivotal defence role as recently as the Second World War.

Temporary defences had been built on the site in the 14th and 15th centuries, but the first permanent fort at Tilbury was built by Henry VIII in 1539 as one of five coastal blockhouses built to protect not only the River Thames, but the City of London itself. Tilbury Fort was built on the Essex bank directly facing another blockhouse on the Kent bank of the Thames at Gravesend. It was a strategic location as the river was especially vulnerable here, due to its significant narrowing.

Tilbury Fort’s role in Tudor history was galvanized when it became the location of Queen Elizabeth I’s famous rallying cries to her army when faced with the might of the advancing Spanish Armada. The threat of the Armada inspired a strengthening of the fort’s construction on the landward side; work carried out by the Italian engineer Frederico Gianibelli. In the 17th century, Dutchman Sir Bernard de Gomme was involved in refortifying the site for Charles II. There were further improvements made in the 19th century and in the 20th century before the First World War. Henry VIII’s blockhouse was retained in the 17th century work but sadly demolished in the 19th century.

The present fort is considered to be one of the best preserved bastioned fortification in the UK and is not much altered from its 17th century state.

Highlights include:

- • The 17th century Water Gate’s decorative façade.

- • The bastion magazine passages

- • Access to fortifications

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/tilbury-fort/

2. ADDRESS:
Tilbury Fort,
Tilbury,
Essex
RM18 7NR

3. TEL:
01375 858489

Waltham Abbey Church, Gatehouse and Bridge

Today, the Abbey Church, gatehouse and bridge, and a few ruins are all that remain of Waltham Abbey, an abbey whose origins dated back to the 11th century, when a church was re-founded at Waltham after Harold Godwin, Earl of Wessex, father of Harold II, was healed of paralysis after praying before the Holy Rood at Waltham. The church was refounded in 1177 as an Augustinian priory, as part of Henry II’s penitence for the murder of Thomas Becket. It was raised to the status of an abbey in 1184 and became one of the most important monastic house of England.

The church is the resting place of King Harold II and the abbey library was home of the 13th century Waltham Bible. The church was a major site of pilgrimage in the medieval and Tudor periods. Waltham was the last abbey to be surrendered to the crown during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and was dissolved in 1540 and granted to the Denny family. It was at this time that the monastic buildings and the parts of the church that stood east of the crossing were sadly demolished. Visitors to the church today, which is known as the Abbey Church of Waltham Holy Cross and St Lawrence, and which serves as the parish church of Waltham Abbey town, can still see the Norman nave, the 14th century Lady Chapel and west wall, and the 16th century west tower. It still has plenty of fine Norman architecture and is well worth a visit.

The gatehouse dates back to the 14th century as does “Harold’s Bridge”, which crosses Cornmill Stream. The gatehouse’s west wall has two beautiful arched gateways that are dressed in limestone: one for pedestrians and one for carriages. Also visible on the site are some remains of the cloister and chapter house walls, along with remains of a post-medieval house.

1. WEB: http://www.walthamabbeychurch.co.uk/
http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/waltham-abbey-gatehouse-and-bridge/

2. ADDRESS:
Waltham Abbey Gatehouse and Bridge,
Waltham Abbey,
Essex
EN9 3LX

3. TEL:
08456 770 600

4. ADDRESS:
Waltham Abbey Church,
Highbridge Street,
Waltham Abbey,
Essex
EN9 1DG

EAST
MIDLANDS

Derbyshire

Leicestershire

Central and South Lincolnshire

Northamptonshire

Nottinghamshire

Rutland

Bosworth Battlefield
Heritage Centre

Leicestershire County Council’s Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre tells the story of the battle that changed the course of English history, seeing the end of Plantagenet rule and the birth of the Tudor dynasty.

The story is told in several different ways to appeal to a wide audience.

Highlights include:

- • An award-winning, interactive exhibition putting the battle in its context, describing the action of the day, the aftermath and Henry VII’s rise to power, and the highs and lows of the Tudor dynasty. The Bosworth Quest gallery shows how the true location of the battlefield was found by archaeological survey and offers visitors a chance to see the finds from the battlefield. The final gallery supports their “Two Kings, One Day” motto, comparing the achievements of both Richard III and Henry VII, contrasting their fates and inviting visitors to vote which they think was the better king.

- • Short and long guided walks putting the history and action of the battle into the landscape. The long guided walks, which are run several times a year, take a full day to explore areas of the actual battlefield, including Stoke Golding, where Henry was unofficially crowned.

- • A self-guided outdoor trail, which includes a memorial sundial to those who fell at Bosworth, overlooked by the large battle standards of both Richard and Henry at the top of Ambion Hill, overlooking the actual battlefield in the plain below.

- • A busy programme of talks, small scale re-enactments and falconry displays throughout the year. The large scale Battle of Bosworth Anniversary Event, which recreates the dramatic events of the battle plus lots of medieval extras, is held every year on the weekend nearest to 22nd August.

1. WEB: http://www.bosworthbattlefield.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre,
Ambion Lane,
Sutton Cheney,
Nuneaton
CV13 0AD

3. TEL:
01455 290429

Bradgate House

Bradgate House, set in Bradgate Park, Leicestershire, was built by Thomas Grey, 2nd Marquess of Dorset and son of Sir John Grey of Groby and Elizabeth Woodville, in the late 15th century. It was one of the first unfortified houses built in Leicestershire, and in fact England, and was also unusual in that it was built of bricks.

On the death of Thomas Grey in 1530, this fine Tudor house passed to his son, Henry Grey, 3rd Marquess of Dorset and 1st Duke of Suffolk. Henry Grey is known for being executed in the reign of Mary I for his role in Wyatt’s Rebellion, and also for being the father of The Nine Days Queen, Lady Jane Grey. Some say that Lady Jane Grey was born at Bradgate House, although historian Leanda de Lisle disagrees, but nevertheless it was where she grew up, the house she called ‘home’.

Although the house now lies in ruins it is a poignant reminder of Lady Jane Grey. In her book, The Sisters Who Would be Queen, Leanda de Lisle writes of how “life at Bradgate was idyllic for the sisters. There were extensive gardens for them to play in, as well as the great park, which was the glory of the house”, and goes on to say: “Bradgate remains one of the most romantic places in Leicestershire and deeply evocative of its Tudor past … There is little more than the crumbling brick the sisters would have known and the deer picking through the trees in the park, as quiet as ghosts.”

Highlights include:

- • The ruins of Bradgate House

- • Old John – the folly on the tallest hill of the park

- • The beautiful scenery of the deer park with its red and fallow deer

- • The visitor centre with its small exhibition of the history of the park and the flora and fauna of the park

1. WEB: http://www.bradgatepark.org/

2. ADDRESS:
Bradgate Country Park
Newtown Linford,
Leicestershire
LE6 0HE

3. TEL:
Estate Office 0116 2341851

Burghley House

Burghley is one of the largest and grandest houses of the first Elizabethan Age. It was built and designed by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1555 and 1587.

The building of the house extended over a period of thirty-two years. We know from the state papers that work on the east range began in 1555 and work continued on the east and south sides until 1564. Sir William Cecil purchased Theobalds Manor, Hertfordshire, in 1563 and was fully engaged there, building his next great ‘prodigy’ house, leaving Burghley part completed for over a decade before works began again.

At Burghley, in August 1564, Edmund Hall, the surveyor, promised that the south side should be finished by winter. Thereafter, little more work was done until 1575, when the team of masons were reassembled. The west front with its great gatehouse was finished in 1577 and was originally intended to be the main entrance. The north front was finally completed in 1587.

The main part of the house has thirty-five major rooms on the ground and first floors, and there are also eighty lesser rooms with numerous halls, corridors, bathrooms and service areas. The lead roof of the iconic skyline extends to three-quarters of an acre, the restoration and rebuilding of which began in 1983 and took nearly ten years to complete. Visitor facilities include the Orangery Restaurant, courtyard shop, Gardens of Surprise and beautiful walks around the historic parkland laid out by Capability Brown and still occupied by a herd of fallow deer.

For visitors interested in Tudor history, a must see is the old kitchen, an Elizabethan wonder with its high fan-vaulted ceiling, working spit and glistening display copper.

History can come alive in a single trip whether it is to enjoy a guided tour, take a dog for a walk in the park, take the children to paddle, see the teddy bear’s picnic in the Gardens of Surprise, or take time over lunch in the orangery.

1. WEB: http://www.burghley.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Burghley House,
Stamford,
Lincolnshire
PE9 3JY

3. TEL:
01780 752451

Canons Ashby

Canons Ashby is a lovely Tudor property located in the Northamptonshire countryside and set in beautiful 18th century grounds. In Elizabeth I’s reign, the remains of a medieval priory on the site were turned into an Elizabethan country manor house, using the priory masonry, by the Dryden family and it has been the family’s home for over 400 years. John Dryden (1631-1700) is the most famous member of the family, becoming Poet Laureate in 1668.

The last time the house and gardens were significantly altered was in 1710, so it really does transport visitors back in time. “Ashby” means “farmstead” and the “Canons” bit of the name refers to the 12th century group of canons who founded the priory on the site and who were known as the “Black Canons” due to their black attire. The priory was suppressed in 1536, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, and was granted to courtier Sir Francis Bryan, who was nick-named “the Vicar of Hell”.

Canons Ashby comprises country house, formal gardens, paddock and parkland, and historic priory church, as well as tea-rooms and gift shop.

Highlights include:

- • Butterfly trail

- 18th century formal gardens

- • The priory church, which is all that remains of the Augustinian priory

- • Tours – house tours, church tours and garden tours

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/canons-ashby-house/

2. ADDRESS:
Canons Ashby,
near Daventry,
Northamptonshire
NN11 3SD

3. TEL:
01327 861900

Ellys Manor House

Ellys Manor House (pronounced Ellis, affectionately referred to as EMH), is without doubt one of the United Kingdom’s most important historic buildings. Historic notes credit Anthony Ellys, an English wool merchant of the Staple of Calais, as builder of the house and the adjacent church tower. Today, Ellys seems a rare and magical building to our shores. However, to understand Ellys is to understand the Northern Renaissance and the Hanseatic League (culture and trade). In and around Cheapside, said to be the first high street in England, these ancient buildings with their iconic stepped gables and lookout towers could be seen where merchants gathered and lived before the Great Fire of London in 1666. Ellys, being built off the beaten track, survives today and is a much loved family home. The architectural language of the building gives complete provenance, thus encapsulating early modern European and British history.

The building is an architectural gem. The main feature of the house is a fabulous scheme of early 16th century wall paintings in the upper rooms, described by architectural historian Sir Nikolaus Pevsner as “a rare English interpretation of French verdure tapestries”. The wall paintings dated around 1500 are said to be “the most complete, extensive and important domestic decoration of this date in the country”.

Later Ellys family members advanced up the aristocratic climb. Sir Richard Ellys, 3rd Baronet (1682-1742), compiled one of the finest country-house libraries in the land, which today can be seen at Blickling Hall (in the long gallery), Norfolk, England.

1. WEB: http://www.ellysmanorhouse.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Ellys Manor House,
Dallygate,
Great Ponton,
Lincs,
NG33 5DP
United Kingdom

3. TEL:
01476 530 023

Gainsborough Old Hall

Gainsborough Old Hall is one of the best-preserved medieval manor houses and dates back to the 1460s when Thomas Burgh inherited the manor and set about building a new manor house. Richard III visited the hall in 1483, and in 1541 Henry VIII and his fifth wife Catherine Howard visited on their northern progress. From 1596, the wealthy Hickman family owned the hall and it is believed that they allowed the Separatist congregation of local preacher John Smyth to worship in secret in the old hall. These Separatists later became known as the Pilgrim Fathers. In the late 18th century, John Wesley, one of the founders of Methodism, preached at the hall.

Visitors will enjoy this “hidden gem of Lincolnshire”, with its 17th century wall paintings, great hall, impressive medieval kitchen (said to be the best after the kitchens of Hampton Court Palace), the “ghost corridor” of the east range, which is said to be haunted by a grey lady dressed in the Tudor style, and original brick built tower.

1. WEB: http://www.gainsborougholdhall.com/ and http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/gainsborough-old-hall/

2. ADDRESS:
Gainsborough Old Hall,
Parnell Street,
Gainsborough,
Lincolnshire
DN21 2NB

3. TEL:
01522 782040

Haddon Hall

Haddon Hall, a medieval manor house, has its foundations in the 14th century. The home of the powerful Vernon family up to 1545, it now belongs to Lord Edward Manners, whose ancestor, Dorothy Vernon, was the heiress to the estate at that time. Haddon was unoccupied from 1700 until 1920, and the house is virtually unchanged since Tudor and Elizabethan times.

Henry Vernon, who lived from 1445 to 1515, was the comptroller of Prince Arthur’s (elder brother of Henry VIII) household, and witnessed the marriage of Prince Arthur to Catherine of Aragon. King Henry VIII is reputed to have given the beautiful tapestry that hangs in the great hall to the Vernon family. It depicts the royal coat of arms, against a blue ‘mille fleur’ background. The parlour that Henry Vernon built is a remarkable example of Tudor design on a modest scale, with a painted ceiling and panelling bearing the date 1545 and the initials of Henry’s grandson, George.

During Queen Elizabeth I’s reign, the owner of Haddon Hall, John Manners, added a stunning long gallery and two terraces of garden, probably designed by the renowned architect Robert Smythson, the first time a building and garden were conceived together. Recent replanting of these terraces aims to recreate the ambience of an Elizabethan garden, with a ‘flowery mead’, knot garden and topiary, as well as medicinal and dye plants.

Haddon Hall is not a royal palace, but its comfortable, homely atmosphere and the more modest scale on which it was built, brings the past to life.

Highlights include:

- • The hall itself, which is described as being “probably the finest example of a fortified medieval manor house in existence”

- • The views over the Derbyshire countryside

- • The chapel dedicated to St Nicholas

- • The long gallery

- • The lovely gardens

1. WEB: http://www.haddonhall.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Haddon Hall,
Bakewell
DE45 1LA

3. TEL:
01629 812855

Hardwick Hall

Hardwick Hall is an Elizabethan masterpiece whose stunning house and beautiful landscape have been created by a cast of thousands. It was the formidable Bess of Hardwick who first created Hardwick in the late 1500s. In the centuries since then her descendants, farmers, gardeners, builders, decorators, embroiderers and craftsmen of all kinds have contributed to and made Hardwick their creation.

Explore and enjoy Hardwick and in the process discover the lives, loves and adventures of the creators of Hardwick.

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/hardwick/?p=1356320204499

2. ADDRESS:
Hardwick Hall
Doe Lea,
Chesterfield,
Derbyshire
S44 5QJ

3. TEL:
01246 850430

Leicester Abbey Park

Now an award-winning public open space in Leicester, the site of the former Leicester Abbey offers a diverting day out for the visitor with the additional bonus of a fascinating history.

A former favourite of and great advisor to King Henry VIII, Cardinal Wolsey’s spectacular fall from grace was embroiled in the turmoil surrounding Henry’s desire to dissolve his marriage with his first wife Catherine of Aragon, and it was the abbey at Leicester that saw the ultimate end of this dramatic chapter of English history. Following his downfall, Wolsey retired to a self-imposed exile in Yorkshire. However, in the autumn of 1530, he received a summons to court from Henry - a warrant for Wolsey’s arrest and for him to be tried for treason. Wolsey left Yorkshire to make the long and arduous journey to London, but only travelled as far as Leicester Abbey where, upon stopping to rest, the former cardinal became ill and died. Wolsey was buried at the abbey and was spared a trial which would no doubt have resulted in his execution. The site of the abbey has been preserved in the park’s Abbey Grounds, a 32-acre site that covers half of the park to the west of the River Soar, which also includes a memorial to Wolsey and the ruins of Cavendish House, a 17th century mansion built by William Cavendish, 1st Earl of Devonshire, with stone from the ruined abbey.

Highlights include:

- • Abbey ruins

- • Miniature railway

- • Formal gardens

- • Boating lake

1. WEB: http://www.leicester.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/parks-and-open-spaces/our-parks/abbey-park

2. ADDRESS:
Leicester Abbey Park,
Leicester
LE4 5AQ

3. TEL:
0116 4541003

Lincoln Castle

This castle, which dominates the skyline of the historic city of Lincoln, dates back to 1068 when it was built by William the Conqueror, and it has been the setting of many battles and sieges over its nearly 1,000-year history.

It is best known for being the home to one of four of the surviving original copies of the 1215 Magna Carta, but Tudor history lovers will be interested to know that it was at Lincoln Castle that Catherine Howard, Henry VIII’s fifth wife, met secretly with her alleged lover Thomas Culpeper.

Highlights for visitors include:

- • The 360 degree medieval wall walk along the great stone curtain wall. This gives wonderful views of the city, Lincoln Cathedral and the surrounding countryside, and allows visitors to see the castle’s towers and dungeons

- • The Victorian prison

- • The David P J Ross Magna Carta Vault where you can see the Magna Carta, the Charter of the Forest, Great Charter Wall and Barons’ Shields. The underground widescreen cinema with 210 degree wraparound screen and 3D sound tells the story of King John, the barons and the birth of the Great Charter

- • Archaeological finds on display in the female prison

1. WEB: http://www.lincolncastle.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Lincoln Castle
Castle Square
Lincoln
LN1 3AA

3. TEL:
01522 782040

Guildhall and Stonebow, Lincoln

Lincoln’s famous Guildhall, the official home of the city’s mayor, dates back to 1520 and occupies the whole of the second floor of the Stonebow, the south gate of the city of Lincoln. It is thought that this gate replaced an earlier Norman, or even Roman, city gate. The Guildhall is still used for council meeting and events today.

At the time of writing, free guided tours are available on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 10:30am and 2pm. They start at the main entrance in Guildhall Street.

Highlights include:

- • The south face, with its statues and grotesques

- • The collection which includes the sword of Richard II, mayor’s chains of office, mayor’s posy ring and the mayor’s mace, which was presented by Charles I

- • The insignia room, which used to be the old debtors’ prison

1. WEB: http://www.lincoln.gov.uk/visitor-and-leisure/events-entertainment-and-attractions/attractions/the-guildhall/110465.article

2. ADDRESS:
Lincoln Guildhall,
Saltergate,
Lincoln,
Lincolnshire
LN2 1DH

3. TEL:
01522 541727

WEST
MIDLANDS

Birmingham

Herefordshire

Shropshire

Staffordshire

Warwickshire

Wolverhampton

Worcestershire

Baddesley Clinton

The moated manor house of Baddesley Clinton is situated in picturesque Warwickshire countryside about 9 miles outside Birmingham. It is owned by the National Trust and is open to the public for much of the year.

The house was originally built in Saxon times and grew steadily into a solid sandstone construction with a moat. Much of the house you see today was built by Henry Ferrers, a lawyer, diarist and antiquarian, in the late 1500s. Records show that Baddesley was a sumptuous and splendidly decorated mansion in the late Tudor period, but as the Ferrers family fortunes declined, so did the decoration.

One of the owners of the property, Henry Ferrers (1549–1633), was an English antiquary and MP. He had an interest in collecting materials about the history of his county, Warwickshire, and planned to publish A Perambulation of Warwickshire, but this never happened. However, William Dugdale, the famous scholar, made good use of Henry’s research while writing Antiquities of Warwickshire.

Baddesley Clinton has three carefully hidden priest holes where it is said eight priests hid while Protestant soldiers searched the house. The house became a sanctuary for many Catholics during the 1590s.

Enjoy your visit with a walk around the gardens, the house and even have lunch or a coffee break in the Barn Restaurant on site. Baddesley is a lovely place to enjoy a taste of Tudor history set against the backdrop of the beautiful Warwickshire countryside.

Highlights include:

- • Beautifully panelled walls displaying portraits of the Ferrers family and heraldic shields

- • The pretty gardens, which include a walled garden, vegetable patch and stew ponds

- • Nature trail

- • Badger’s Dell – the medieval quarry which provided stone for the building of the house

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/baddesley-clinton/visitor-information/

2. ADDRESS:
Baddesley Clinton
Rising Lane,
Baddesley Clinton,
Warwickshire,
B93 0DQ

3. TEL:
01564 783294

Charlecote Park

The Lucy family have owned the land at Charlecote Park since the 13th century but the present Elizabethan property was built by Sir Thomas Lucy, using money inherited by his wife Joyce Acton in the 1550s. Charlecote is considered “one of the first great Elizabethan houses” and is set within a beautiful deer park (of around 185 acres) on the banks of the River Avon, just a stone’s throw from historic Stratford-upon-Avon. It is said that the Bard William Shakespeare poached rabbits and deer on the estate.

The house is a mixture of history, with its imposing Elizabethan exterior and its splendid Victorian interiors. The great hall was created in the Victorian era as an Elizabethan-Revival interior.

Highlights include:

- • Portraits of the Lucy family which can be found throughout the house and particularly in the great hall

- • The Tudor gatehouse

- • The porch, which was built to impress Queen Elizabeth I

- • The scenic parkland, with its fallow deer and Jacob sheep

- • The pretty gardens, with their riverside parterre, colourful herbaceous borders and Victorian summerhouse

- • The award-winning Victorian kitchen

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/charlecote-park/

2. ADDRESS:
Charlecote Park.
Charlecote,
Wellesbourne,
Warwickshire
CV35 9ER

3. TEL:
01789 470277

The Collegiate Church of
St Mary, Warwick

The Collegiate Church of St Mary in Warwick dates back to 1123 when it was created by Roger de Beaumont (or de Newburgh), 2nd Earl of Warwick, who also established the College of Deans and Canons there. Later building work was carried out in the 14th century by Thomas de Beauchamp. Unfortunately, the nave and tower were destroyed in the 1694 Great Fire of Warwick and the crypt is the only surviving part of the original Norman building. The church was rebuilt in 1704 in a Gothic style by William Wilson.

Highlights include:

- • The tomb of Thomas de Beauchamp in front of the high altar and that of Fulke Greville, 1st Baron Brooke and an Elizabethan poet, dramatist and statesman, in the chapter house.

- • The Norman crypt, with its medieval ducking stool

- • The beautiful 15th century Beauchamp Chapel which houses the tombs of Richard de Beauchamp, 13th Earl of Warwick; Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick; Robert Dudley, 1st Earl of Leicester and Elizabeth I’s favourite, and his wife Lettice Knollys; and their son, Robert, the “Noble Impe”.

- • The 14th century chancel, vestry and chapter house

1. WEB: http://www.stmaryswarwick.org.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Collegiate Church of St Mary
Old Square
Warwick
CV34 4RA

3. TEL:
01926 403940

Coombe Abbey

Originally founded by Cistercian monks as an abbey in the 12th century, Coombe has a long and fascinating history. The Abbey’s connections with English Royalty are, of course, linked to King Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries when, in 1540, Coombe became a crown property.

An eventful history saw numerous alterations and additions to Coombe, including the landscaping of the grounds in the late 18th century by that most famous of British garden designers Lancelot Brown, more commonly known simply as “Capability Brown”. Unfortunately, the landscaped grounds are currently the only publicly accessible area of Coombe (via the Coombe Country Park) as the abbey building itself has in recent years been adapted into a luxury hotel. The abbey remains accessible to the enthusiast, however, as weekly medieval banquets are held at the hotel (along with various other themed events) and are bookable by non-residents. Part meal/part performance, medieval-style food can be enjoyed alongside traditional medieval entertainments. It is a riotous evening’s diversion held against a backdrop of some of the abbey’s most significant events - it challenges the guest to enjoy their evening while royal henchmen ransack the abbey.

Highlights include:

- • Medieval banquets

- • Afternoon tea

- 119 individually designed bedchambers

1. WEB: http://www.coombeabbey.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Coombe Abbey,
Brinklow Rd,
Coventry,
Warwickshire
CV3 2AB

3. TEL:
02476 450450

Coughton Court

Few of England’s great houses can claim over 600 years as the home of the same family, but Coughton Court, which is set in the Warwickshire countryside, has been the home of the Throckmorton family since 1409. This provides the house with an interesting history, one that is particularly fascinating to the Tudor enthusiast because, in the Tudor era, the Throckmortons were a powerful Catholic family who went from favour in the early Tudor period to suffering oppression in the English Reformation. The Throckmortons were also heavily involved in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605, and in the 19th century they “helped to bring about Catholic emancipation”.

A truly beautiful building, Coughton Court retains many of its remarkable original features, including its 16th century gate tower. It also houses a collection of Tudor artefacts and art. The beauty of Coughton Court is further enhanced by its wonderfully landscaped gardens, which stretch to 25 acres. Described in Royal Horticultural Society literature as “breathtaking”, Coughton Court’s gardens include a walled garden, bog garden, formal lawns and a daffodil garden displaying the family’s own “Throckmorton Daffodil”. Unspoilt, beautifully preserved and without some of the overt commercialisation of many historic houses, a visit to Coughton Court provides a tranquil Tudor oasis within the modern world.

Highlights include:

- • The fine Tudor house, with its gatehouse and stableyard

- • The restaurant and tearooms which were the original Tudor kitchens – see the enormous fireplace and bread ovens

- • Welcome talk on the back lawn, which will take you on a journey through 600 years of history

- • Portraits, tapestries, medieval manuscripts and artefacts

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/coughton-court/ and http://www.coughtoncourt.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Coughton Court,
Alcester,
Warwickshire
B49 5JA

3. TEL:
01789 400777

Kenilworth Castle

Kenilworth Castle dates back to the early 12th century, when it was founded by Henry I’s lord chamberlain, Geoffrey de Clinton, but was built over several centuries, benefiting from lavish spending by John of Gaunt in the late 14th century and Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, in the 16th century.

This medieval castle was an important building during Tudor times, being the home of Elizabeth I’s favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. Elizabeth I visited the castle in 1575 and, in anticipation of this visit, Dudley went to extraordinary lengths, building luxury state apartments, making a beautiful privy garden and pleasure grounds, and building a splendid gatehouse.

In 1649, the castle was partially destroyed by Parliamentary forces and is now in ruins apart from two of its buildings – Leicester’s Gatehouse and the Tudor stables.

English Heritage have done much to improve the castle and you can now see exhibitions, an audio tour and a spectacular recreation of an Elizabethan garden.

Highlights include:

- • Leicester’s Gatehouse

- • The Tudor stables

- • The atmospheric ruins of the medieval castle

- • The Elizabethan garden

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/kenilworth-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Kenilworth Castle,
Castle Green,
Kenilworth,
Warwickshire
CV8 1NE

3. TEL:
01926 852078

Kinnersley Castle

Kinnersley Castle is believed to date back to Norman times when it was built as one of the many Marches castles along the English/Welsh border. It was, however, remodelled between 1585 and 1601 by Robert Vaughan as an Elizabethan manor house.

Highlights include:

- • The fine oak panelled rooms

- • The original 1588 plasterwork ceiling of the solar

- • The 8 acres of grounds, which include a walled kitchen garden, one of the largest Ginkgo Biloba trees in the country, and yew hedges

The castle is privately owned, but is available for a limited number of group, social and family events and group guided tours.

1. WEB: http://www.kinnersleycastle.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Kinnersley Castle,
Hereford
HR3 6QF

3. TEL:
01544 327407

Lilleshall Abbey

Set in the Shropshire countryside, one of England’s most beautiful counties, the remains of the Augustinian Lilleshall Abbey are administered by English Heritage, an organisation now responsible for a large number of historical locations throughout the nation.

The surviving abbey buildings date back to the 12th and 13th centuries and, like most monasteries, its buildings were arranged around a central cloister. It was originally founded by brothers Richard and Philip de Belmeis, and was settled by a group of canons, who subsequently became part of the order of St Augustine, in around 1148. Although attached to extensive and lucrative farmland, by the 14th century the abbey at Lilleshall was massively in debt and its sale was subsequently forced. Purchased by the Cavendish family the religious history of Lilleshall was effectively over. Passing into the hands of the Levenson family, the abbey was fortified for Charles I by Sir Richard Levenson and the building went on to be known as a rural stronghold of the English Civil War.

Highlights include:

- • The lavishly sculpted 12th century processional doorway leading from the cloister into the abbey church

- • The slype, or vaulted passage which provided access from the cloister through the east range

- • The surviving grave slabs

- • The east end of the 12th century abbey church, which shows the remains of a 14th century window

- • The ancient yew trees

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/lilleshall-abbey/

2. ADDRESS:
Lilleshall Abbey (English Heritage),
Lilleshall,
Newport,
Shropshire
TF10 9HW

3. TEL:
0370 333 1181

The Lord Leycester Hospital, Warwick

The Lord Leycester Hospital was never a medical establishment. It comprises a series of unique, ancient and historic buildings, continuously occupied since Tudor times as a place of retirement for ex-servicemen and their wives. So it remains today and welcomes visitors from all over the world throughout the year.

In 1571, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, favourite of Queen Elizabeth I, founded a retirement home or ‘hospital’ for disabled soldiers in the ancient buildings. The hospital, a self-supporting charity, continues to provide a home for ‘The Brethren’ as they are known. The hospital comprises the Chantry Chapel of St James, built over the arched vaulting of the West Gate of Warwick; the guildhall, built in 1450 by Neville, the ‘Kingmaker’, which contains an eclectic collection of artefacts, many brought back as trophies by generations of old warriors who spent their declining years as Brothers; and the great hall, with its magnificent timbered roof, which was built in 1450 for celebrations and banquets. King James dined in the great hall in 1617.

The galleried courtyard in front of the Master’s House is a fine example of ancient timber domestic architecture. Decorated with heraldic devices, it has been painted many times and featured widely in photographs and as a location for film and television productions, including Doctor Who, Pride and Prejudice, and How We Built Britain.

Hidden behind the Master’s House lies a tiny, beautiful, tranquil garden. Its delightful planting echoes a former time. Unique features include the 12th century Norman arch, a stone vase reputed to have crowned the 2,000-year-old Egyptian ‘Nilometer’, and a very early pineapple pit.

1. WEB: http://lordleycester.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Lord Leycester Hospital,
60 High Street,
Warwick,
Warwickshire
CV34 4BH

3. TEL:
01926 491 422

Ludlow Castle

Ludlow Castle is everything a castle should be: imposing, stately and, above all, steeped in a fascinating history. The castle dominates the market town of Ludlow in the exquisite Shropshire countryside, as it has done since it was first constructed as a fortress in Norman times with the predominant aim of keeping the Welsh firmly out of England.

Originally a home to the de Lacy and Mortimer families, Ludlow Castle became a royal residence in 1461 and remained a crown property into the 19th century.

In addition to exploring the castle’s wonderful buildings and experiencing its atmosphere, the castle at Ludlow offers history enthusiasts the unique opportunity to stay the night in the luxurious self-catering apartments created within the castle itself. Surely a must for the Tudor fan is a stay in ‘The Prince Arthur and Catherine of Aragon Apartment’, which combines all modern conveniences within a beautiful historic setting.

Now the seat of the earls of Powis, Ludlow Castle has been exceptionally well-preserved, with the family arresting much of the decline suffered by the castle, which for a time threatened its continued existence, and finally opening the castle for the enjoyment of the public.

Highlights include:

- • Views over Ludlow’s historic market town

- • The great tower gatehouse keep – a Norman keep

- • St Peter’s Chapel, built in the 14th century

- • The Round Chapel, or Norman chapel

- • Mortimer’s Tower

- • A stay in the castle apartments

1. WEB: http://www.ludlowcastle.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Ludlow Castle,
Castle Square,
Ludlow,
Shropshire
SY8 1AY

3. TEL:
01584 873355

Selly Manor and Minworth Greaves

Selly Manor, in the heart of Bournville, Birmingham, is a timber-framed building that dates back to 1476, when it was part of William Jenette’s estate and was called Smythes Tenement. It was built to a traditional medieval layout and the two-storey solar range is the only surviving medieval part. As the owners became more and more wealthy, the property underwent extensive renovations in the 17th century. The medieval hall and living quarters were demolished and a brick-work three-storey construction added. The service end, with kitchen, is thought to have been rebuilt in the 16th century.

The house’s status fell later in the 17th and 18th centuries as it was passed from landlord to landlord, and by the mid 19th century it had been split into three cottages known collectively as The Rookery. In 1907, the dilapidated Rookery was purchased by chocolate manufacturer George Cadbury for a museum. The building was carefully dismantled and moved to its current site and opened as a museum, Selly Manor, in 1917. It is now furnished as a medieval/Tudor house would have been, taking visitors back in time.

Next to Selly Manor is Minworth Greaves, a beautiful cruck-framed medieval hall house that dates back over 750 years, and which was moved to the site in 1932 by Laurence Cadbury from its original location, Minworth, near Sutton Coldfield.

Highlights include:

- • The original medieval entrance

- • The beautiful black-and-white timber house

- • Beautiful Minworth Greaves

1. WEB: http://www.sellymanormuseum.org.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Selly Manor,
Maple Rd,
Bournville,
Birmingham
B30 2AE
United Kingdom

3. TEL:
0121 472 0199

St Nicholas Church, Kenilworth

The first parish church on this site dates back to 1291, when the church was described as being under the patronage of the prior of Kenilworth Priory. This priory was founded in 1122 and became an abbey in 1450. It stood to the south of St Nicholas Church until 1538, when it was dissolved during the reign of Henry VIII.

St Nicholas Church was visited by Henry’s daughter, Elizabeth I, in July 1575 when she was staying with her favourite Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, at Kenilworth Castle. It is said that she heard a “most fruitful sermon” at the church.

The church suffered some damage during the Civil War and bullet marks can still be seen today on the north wall. Oliver Cromwell’s troops were billeted there in 1646 and Scottish troops in 1649.

1. WEB: http://www.stnicholaskenilworth.org.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
St Nicholas Church,
High St,
Kenilworth,
Warwickshire
CV8 1LZ

3. TEL:
01926 854367

Historic Stratford-upon-Avon

One of the most picturesque and historic towns in the whole of England, Stratford-upon-Avon and its many, many visitor attractions is a must-see location for anyone interested in the history of the Tudor period.

Birthplace of William Shakespeare, Stratford has built an entire industry around its pride in its most famous son, managing to combine excellent tourist facilities and attractions without compromising the unique charm of the town. Although much of the town centre is accessible to traffic, this busy little place manages to maintain an atmosphere truly in keeping with its Tudor identity. Shakespeare’s Stratford offers a wealth of Shakespeare-themed experiences, from performances at the Royal Shakespeare Company Theatre on the banks of the beautiful River Avon, to the many other Shakespeare-related buildings that are dotted throughout the town and that served as homes to the man himself and to those closest to him.

Although covering many areas of the town centre, Stratford’s compact layout means that all attractions are within an easy walk of one another. Walking in Stratford is always a pleasure due to the unique collection of buildings, the many Shakespeare themed locations and its exquisite setting on the banks of the lovely River Avon.

Highlights include:

- • Tudor World – see separate listing

- • Holy Trinity Church – the 13th century church, which is the resting place of William Shakespeare, Anne Hathaway and members of their family

- • Nash’s House and New Place – William Shakespeare died at New Place in 1616 and although the house is no longer standing, visitors can enjoy the garden and see the mulberry tree which is said to have been grown from a cutting planted by the bard himself. The site is also home to the “Dig for Shakespeare” archaeological project

- • Anne Hathaway’s cottage – this cottage in nearby Shottery was the childhood home of William Shakespeare’s wife, Anne, and dates back to the early 1460s

- • Shakespeare’s Birthplace – here visitors can learn William Shakespeare’s story

- • Mary Arden’s Farm – home of Shakespeare’s grandparents and his mother, Mary Arden. Visitors to the farm can learn all about Tudor and Elizabethan rural life

- • Hall’s Croft – the elegant 17th century home of Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna and her husband Dr John Hall. Visitors can visit Dr Hall’s consulting room and see 17th century medical artefacts and Dr Hall’s medical notes

- • Royal Shakespeare Company performances at the Royal Shakespeare and Swan Theatre – there’s nothing quite like seeing one of Shakespeare’s plays in his home town

- • The beautiful Bancroft Gardens on the banks of the River Avon

1. WEB: http://www.shakespeare.org.uk/visit-the-houses.html

2. ADDRESS:
Stratford-upon-Avon,
Warwickshire
CV37

Royal Shakespeare Company website: http://www.rsc.org.uk/

Tudor World (Falstaff Experience), Stratford-upon-Avon

Tudor World is an unusual, small, independent museum set within a Tudor property in the heart of Stratford-upon-Avon. It does not have artefacts or period furniture but instead recreates different areas of Tudor life, interwoven with stories of the building’s rich history (on a site that dates back to the birth of the town in the 12th century) and the history of Stratford itself.

The building itself is very atmospheric and is accessed via the only remaining cobbled street in Stratford. Some of the history is related in a horrible history type fashion and covers the plague, barber surgeons, markets, school, ship life, witchcraft, kings and queens, and the tavern that once stood on the property and which was owned by William Rogers, the inspiration for Shakespeare’s famous comic character Sir John Falstaff. William Rogers’ nephew, William Walker, was Shakespeare’s godson, to whom he left 20 shillings in his will. William Rogers’ daughter Elizabeth was also close friends with Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna. They even named their first children after each other, which is why Shakespeare’s only grandchild was called Elizabeth.

While the museum may not appeal to the purist, it does offer Tudor lovers a slice of different areas of Tudor life and a heady atmosphere of the time. It also offers ghost tours – lantern lit, overnight or family friendly versions.

1. WEB: http://www.falstaffexperience.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Tudor World,
40 Sheep Street,
Stratford-upon-Avon,
Warwickshire
CV37 6EE

3. TEL:
01789 298070

Tutbury Castle

Situated on wooded slopes overlooking the River Dove are the ruins of Tutbury Castle. The castle dates back to Norman times, when in 1068/9 the land was granted to Hugh d’Avranches and a motte and bailey castle was constructed. In 1071, it was granted to Henry de Ferrers, who went on to found Tutbury Priory. In the early 12th century, a stone keep replaced the wooden tower of the castle, but the whole castle was destroyed in the late 12th century on the orders of Henry II after the castle’s owner, William de Ferrers, rebelled against the king and the castle was besieged.

The castle has been destroyed and rebuilt at various times in its long history, and the earliest surviving part is the 12th century chapel. The castle ruins date from the 14th and 15th centuries when the castle was rebuilt during the reigns of Henry IV, Henry VI and Henry VII. The castle has links to many royals: John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, used the castle as his residence and his son, Henry IV, spent his childhood there. The castle was given to Henry VI’s wife, Margaret of Anjou, as part of her marriage settlement, and Henry VIII is recorded as visiting the castle in 1511.

The castle is best known for its links to Mary, Queen of Scots, who was imprisoned at Tutbury on four occasions between 1569 and 1585, with George Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury and husband to Bess of Hardwick, Sir Ralph Sadler, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, and Sir Amyas Paulet acting as her gaolers. Sadler had allowed Mary considerable freedom, allowing her to hunt with hawks in the surrounding countryside, but Paulet was far stricter and even stopped her helping the poor people of Tutbury town. Mary not only hated her gaoler, she hated the castle, complaining about how cold, damp and draughty it was, and how it subjected her to all the “winds and injures of heaven”.

Between 1595 and 1609, surveys described the castle as being “in great ruin” and there was further rebuilding work in the 1630s. However, Tutbury was finally destroyed in 1646 after a three-week siege during the Civil War. It now stands in ruins.

Highlights include:

- • Its authentic Tudor garden and medieval herbery

- • The haunted great hall and king’s bedroom

- • The many events held at the castle, including fireworks, ghost hunts and historical re-enactments

1. WEB: http://www.tutburycastle.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Tutbury Castle,
Castle Street,
Tutbury,
Burton-on-Trent,
Staffordshire
DE13 9JF

3. TEL:
01283 812129

Warwick Castle

Widely publicised under the tagline “Britain’s Ultimate Castle”, Warwick Castle has many reasons to bill itself as such. Arguably one of the most attractive, and certainly one of the most impressive, of all English Castles, Warwick’s medieval origins and fascinating history give rise to numerous historical anecdotes and a reputation for some particularly chilling hauntings.

The owners of Warwick Castle have maximised its assets to ensure that there is something here for every visitor. Set within 64 acres of grounds on the banks of the River Avon, Warwick Castle is an incredibly popular attraction and, from its construction alone, it’s easy to see why. The castle’s original motte and bailey structure was adapted many times, with significant refortification occurring in the 1640s in order to prepare Warwick for its role in the English Civil War. The castle we see today, with its stone walls punctuated by imposing towers, its drawbridges, portcullises and murder holes, is the quintessential English castle. Warwick served for a short time as a prison in 1469, when King Edward IV was incarcerated there by Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick.

The site of many visits by Elizabeth I, Warwick Castle offers numerous attractions to the visitor, and hosts many special events throughout the year such as jousting exhibitions and falconry displays.

Highlights include:

- Castle interiors – from lavish state rooms to the peaceful Earl’s Chapel

- The towers and ramparts

- The magnificent great hall

- The castle dungeons

- The Time Tower - “Join characters from the castle’s past as they travel through time on an adventure quest through Warwick Castle’s dark history of bloodshed, death, treachery & destruction”

- The mighty trebuchet

- The Kingmaker – find out about armour, weapons and medieval life as the Kingmaker rallies his troops

- The gardens with their topiary peacocks, fragrant Victorian rose garden, island, playground, Victorian mill and peacock garden

1. WEB: http://www.warwick-castle.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Warwick Castle,
Warwick
CV34 4QU

3. TEL:
0871 265 2000

Weobley Village

The Herefordshire village of Weobley is regarded as one of the best preserved Tudor black-and-white villages in the UK and is a charming place to visit. It was chosen in 2015 by The Daily Mail newspaper as one of the top twenty most idyllic villages you MUST visit.

In the medieval era, Weobley was a thriving market town whose wealth came from wool and which was known for its ale-, glove- and nail-making. Visiting the village is like stepping back in time because visitors are surrounded by beautiful, historic timber-framed houses.

Highlights include:

- • The Church of St Peter and St Paul with its Norman south doorway, 13th century chancel and 14th century tower

- • The earthworks which used to be Weobley Castle

- • The Throne – a 15th and 16th century building where Charles I spent the night following the Battle of Naseby

- • The Weobley Heritage Trail – this takes visitors around the village following plaques that explain the history of buildings and what happened there in the past.

1. WEB: http://www.weobley.org/nfHome.asp?

2. ADDRESS:
Weobley,
Herefordshire
HR4

Wroxall Abbey

The history of Wroxall Abbey dates back to the 12th century when a Benedictine Priory of Black Nuns was established here. Like all of the great abbeys of England, Wroxall became crown property in the 16th century under King Henry VIII’s Dissolution of the Monasteries It was the dissolution that was largely responsible for the significant alteration in the appearance of Wroxall Abbey, as crown appointee Robert Burgon destroyed much of the original priory and replaced it with a structure representative of the distinctive Elizabethan style. Further adaptations were made in the 18th century when Wroxall became the country seat of one of England’s most revered architects, Sir Christopher Wren, designer of the newly rebuilt St Paul’s Cathedral.

In the 19th century, a new mansion house was built on the Wroxall Estate in the Victorian Gothic style, but many of the older buildings remain to be viewed today. Wroxall’s most recent incarnation as a hotel means that the Tudor enthusiast is able to discover Wroxall’s many treasures and to stay overnight on this most enchanting of English estates, set in parkland within the beautiful Warwickshire countryside.

Highlights include:

- • Wren’s cathedral – a 12th century church, which is the resting place of Sir Christopher Wren’s wife and which has some of the oldest stained glass in the country

- • Rooms with traditional four-poster beds

- • The site of the old abbey with its ancient cedar trees and abbey ruins

- • Twenty-seven acres of scenic gardens, parkland and lakes

1. WEB: http://www.wroxall.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Wroxall Abbey Hotel & Estate,
Birmingham Road,
Wroxall,
Warwickshire
CV35 7NB

3. TEL:
01926 484470

WALES

Beaumaris Castle

Set on the Isle of Anglesey in Wales, this castle is a World Heritage Site and is described by Cadw, the Welsh government’s historic environment service, as “the most technically perfect castle in Britain”. It was started in the late 13th century as part of King Edward I’s campaign to conquer North Wales but was never completed due to money running out and Edward’s focus moving to Scotland. However, even in its unfinished state it is still considered technically perfect and the finest of Edward’s Welsh castles.

The castle was constructed according to a concentric “wall within walls” plan, i.e. a higher ring of defences surrounded by a lower ring of walls, and in fact comprises four successive lines of fortifications, which were seen as cutting edge for 13th century design.

In 1403, Beaumaris was besieged then taken by Owain Glyndwr and his rebel forces before being retaken, two years later, by royal forces. It then fell into disrepair. In Henry VII’s reign, Sir Roland de Velville, who some believe to be Henry’s illegitimate son, was appointed as Constable of Beaumarism but the castle continued to decline, being described as “utterlie decayed” in 1609. During the Civil War, Thomas Bulkeley held it for the king and improved its defences, but it was forced to surrender twice. Its decline continued and in the 19th century it was viewed as a romantic ruin and was even painted by J. M. W. Turner. In 1986 it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage with UNESCO describing it as one of “the finest examples of late 13th century and early 14th century military architecture in Europe”.

Highlights include:

- • The exterior beauty of the moated castle with its curtain walls

- • Its impressive exterior tower

- • The gatehouse and bridge over the moat

- • The interesting inner wall passageways

- • The tranquil chapel

- • The wall walk

- • The views across the Menai Strait

1. WEB: http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/beaumaris-castle/?lang=en

2. ADDRESS:
Beaumaris Castle
Castle St,
Beaumaris,
Isle of Anglesey
LL58 8AP

3. TEL:
01248 810361

Old Beaupre Castle

Just outside Cowbridge in Wales stands Old Beaupre Castle, the ruins of a medieval fortified manor house that was modified during the Tudor period.

The original manor house was built in around 1300 and comprised a group of buildings around the inner, or southernmost, court. In the 16th century the owner, Sir Rice Mansel, undertook an extensive rebuilding programme which was continued by William Bassett and then his son Richard. In 1586, the outer three-storey gatehouse was completed and then in 1600 the magnificent Renaissance porch was finished. The Bassetts also added buildings around the middle court. Little work was done after the 16th century and, although some buildings stand in ruins, the outer gatehouse and porch are very well-preserved.

Highlights include:

- • Magnificently carved Renaissance porch

- • The well-preserved outer gatehouse

- • The Bassett family heraldic panels on the gatehouse and porch

1. WEB: http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/oldbeauprecastle/

2. ADDRESS:
Old Beaupre Castle,
Cowbridge,
Vale of Glamorgan
CF71 7LT

3. TEL:
01443 336000

Cardiff Castle

Cardiff Castle’s history dates back to the first century AD when Romans built a campaign base on the site, which was considered a strategic site due to its location where the River Taff neared the Bristol Channel. However, the remains we see today are a mixture of medieval castle and Victorian Gothic revival mansion.

In the 12th and 13th centuries a stone castle was built by Robert of Gloucester and the de Clare family to replace the 11th century motte and bailey castle. Further work was done in the 15th century by Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, and the core of the present house dates to this period (1423-1439). It then passed on to Anne Neville, wife of Richard Neville, “the Kingmaker”, before passing through the hands of Richard III and Jasper Tudor. Following Jasper’s death, the castle became crown property and was used as a prison for a time. Heretic Thomas Capper was burned at the castle on the orders of Henry VIII. It remained crown property until it was granted to William Herbert in 1551 by Edward VI, and it was the Herbert family who built an Elizabethan mansion within the inner bailey.

Between 1776 and 1947, the castle was owned by the Bute family, who set about transforming it into a Gothic fantasy palace complete with fairy-tale apartments and opulent, highly-decorated rooms. A 46m high clock tower was added in 1868.

Although the exterior was remodelled to fit in with the 19th century Bute family’s ideas of what medieval castles should be, and is, therefore, not seen as historically authentic, there are still plenty of original features to enjoy.

- • The twelve-sided Norman ‘shell’ keep with panoramic views over Cardiff

- • The Roman wall – remains of a Roman fort on the site

- The trebuchet – A historically accurate replica of a 13th century siege engine

1. WEB: http://www.cardiffcastle.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Cardiff Castle,
Castle St,
Cardiff
CF10 3RB

3. TEL:
0 29 2087 8100

Carew Castle

This magnificent ruined castle located in the Welsh county of Pembrokeshire has a history going back 2,000 years, with archaeology pointing to the site possibly being used for a defensive structure by Iron Age Celts.

An earth and timber Norman fortification was started on the site by Gerald de Windsor in around 1100 and was continued by his son William, who took the name “de Carew”. It was William who built the stone walls around the keep and who added the great hall. In the late 15th century, Rhys ap Thomas spent a considerable amount of money on the property after he acquired it from Sir Edward Carew when the Carews fell on hard times. Rhys added the gatehouse, which leads from the bailey into the castle’s outer ward.

In Elizabeth I’s reign, the castle was acquired by Sir John Perrot, Lord Deputy of Ireland, who added a wing and developed the property into his idea of an Elizabethan country house. Following Perrot’s fall from favour and his death in the Tower of London, the castle became crown property before going back to the Carew family in 1607. The Carew family still own it today, but lease it to Pembrokeshire Coast National Park.

The site also comprises a tidal mill, which is the only restored and intact tidal mill in Wales. The mill building dates back to the early 19th century, but it is thought that there was a mill on the site as early as 1542.

Highlights include:

- • An 11th century Celtic cross

- • The restored tidal mill

- • The medieval bridge

- • The picturesque location next to the mill pond

- • Ruins of Sir John Perrot’s north range

- • The 13th and 14th century remains

- • The arms of Henry VII, Arthur Prince of Wales and Catherine of Aragon on the ruins of the porch

1. WEB: http://www.pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk/default.asp?PID=262

2. ADDRESS:
Carew Castle,
Carew,
Tenby,
Pembrokeshire
SA70 8SL

3. TEL:
01646 651782

Carmarthen Castle

Set between council offices and shops in the town of Carmarthen, Wales, are the remains of Carmarthen Castle. The earliest castle on this site dates back to Norman times, and it appears that the castle was rebuilt at various times in the 12th and 13th centuries due to the troubles between England and Wales. In 1215, it was captured and destroyed by Llywelyn the Great and then recaptured by William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, in 1223 and subsequently rebuilt. In the 14th century, the gatehouse and south-west tower, which can still be seen today, were added. The castle was sacked in 1405 by Owain Glyndwr and so needed further rebuilding work.

The main Tudor link with Carmarthen Castle is that it was granted to Edmund Tudor, father of Henry VII, in 1456. Unfortunately, the castle was soon after besieged by Yorkist William Herbert of Raglan (the future Earl of Pembroke), and Edmund was captured and imprisoned in the castle’s dungeon. He died there, probably from the plague, on 3rd November 1456.

Ruins visible today of this once important fortress include the 14th century gatehouse and remains of the stone-revetted motte, two semi-circular corner towers, two buttresses, some curtain wall, and two gate towers.

1. WEB: http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/maps-and-itineraries/magnacarta/carmarthen-castle/?lang=en

2. ADDRESS:
Carmarthen Castle,
Carmarthen,
Carmarthenshire
SA31 1PQ

While you’re in Carmarthen, why not visit St Peter’s Church? This 11th century church is the resting place of Walter Devereux, 1st Earl of Essex, and Sir Rhys ap Thomas of Dynefwr, former ally of Henry VII and the man believed to have killed Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth. In Mary I’s reign, the church was where Robert Ferrar, Bishop of St David’s, was tried and condemned as a heretic. He was burned at the stake in Nott Square on 30th March 1555.

1. ADDRESS:
St Peter’s Church,
Church Street,
Carmarthen,
Dyfed
SA31 1GW

Chirk Castle

This magnificent medieval fortress of the Welsh Marches was built in the late 13th century on an outcrop above the confluence of the rivers Dee and Ceiriog, probably by Roger Mortimer, or his uncle, Roger Mortimer de Chirk, as part of Edward I’s chain of defences in North Wales.

The Beaufort family, relations of Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, owned Chirk between 1439 and 1464, and Henry VII owned it from 1495 after it became crown property on the execution of Sir William Stanley. It remained crown property until 1563, when it was granted to Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, by Elizabeth I. The south range was built while it was crown property and then partially rebuilt in 1529.

Further building work was done in the 17th century by London merchant and co-founder of the East India Company, Sir Thomas Myddelton, who bought the castle in 1595. Myddelton set about transforming the medieval castle into a Tudor stately home. He built a new stone north range and used the south range for servant accommodation.

During the Civil War, the majority of the eastern site was demolished and other parts burned, meaning that rebuilding work had to be done during the Restoration. An eastern stone range, complete with long gallery, was added, along with the rebuilding of the curtain wall and towers. There were further alterations in the 18th and 19th centuries.

According to the National Trust, it is the last castle of this period to be lived in today and is lived in by descendants of Sir Thomas Myddelton.

Highlights include:

- • The award-winning gardens which cover 5.5 acres

- • The medieval castle with its gatehouse, towers, dungeons and murder holes

- • The Myddelton family home which reflects 400 years of history

- • The 17th century long gallery

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/chirk-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Chirk Castle,
Chirk,
Wrexham
LL14 5AF

3. TEL: 01691 777701

Conwy Castle

Built by master mason James of St George as one of Edward I’s “iron ring” of castles in North Wales, this dark-stoned fortress is, in the words of Cadw, the historic environment service of the Welsh government,“by any standards one of the great fortresses of medieval Europe”. It was built between 1283 and 1289 on a rock above the Conwy estuary and comprised two barbicans, eight huge round towers (four on the north and four on the south) and curtain walls. Its outer ward housed a great hall, chambers and kitchen, and its inner ward housed a royal chapel and chambers. There was no need for the usual concentric “walls within walls” plan because of the castle’s location on a rock base. The castle and the town walls cost a staggering £15,000, a huge amount in that time.

By the early 14th century, the castle was suffering from neglect, having leaking roofs and rotten timbers, and underwent repairs in the 14th century when it was controlled by Edward, the Black Prince. Richard II used the castle as a refuge for a time at the end of the 14th century. The castle was attacked by Rhys ap Tudur and his brother Gwilym, as part of their cousin Owain Glyndŵr’s rebellion, in 1401, and held for three months. They were finally forced to surrender. In the 1520s and 1530s, restoration work was carried out at the castle under the orders of King Henry VIII.

Although the castle was further damaged during the 17th century, due to it not being maintained properly, it is remarkably well-preserved and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, being a fine example of 13th and 14th century military architecture.

Highlights include:

- • Spectacular views from the battlements over the town walls over across the sea and mountains

- • Its well-preserved ruins, which include what historian Jeremy Ashbee describes as the “best preserved suite of medieval private royal chambers in England and Wales”

- Its impressive high curtain walls and eight huge towers

1. WEB: http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/conwycastle/?lang=en

2. ADDRESS:
Conwy Castle,
Rose Hill St,
Conwy
LL32 8AY

3. TEL:
01492 592358

Denbigh Castle

Like Chirk and Beaumaris Castle, Denbigh Castle was built in the 13th century as part of Edward I’s chain of defences in North Wales, his “iron ring” of castles. Situated on a rocky outcrop above the town of Denbigh, stand ruins of what once was a formidable fortress. Work started on the castle in 1282, on the site of Dafydd ap Gruffyd’s original stronghold, on the orders of Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln, after he was granted the Lordship of Denbigh, and further building work was carried out in 1294, following an attack during the revolt of Madog ap Llywelyn. James St George, Edward I’s master mason was the one in charge of building the castle.

Denbigh was attacked in the 15th century by Owain Glyndŵr and Jasper Tudor, suffering some damage, and then in the 16th century it was held by Elizabeth I’s favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. It endured a six-month siege during the Civil War, surrendering finally to Parliamentarian forces who damaged it to stop it being used again. It then acted as a prison for royalist prisoners. It fell into decay following the Restoration.

Highlights include:

- • The town wall – the walls of the castle were designed to surround the original town of Denbigh

- • The ruins of the three towered gatehouse with its triangular design and three inter-connecting octagonal tower. There is also a small headless statue over the entrance arch

- • The huge inner courtyard

- • The extensive ruins

1. WEB: http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/denbighcastle/?lang=en

2. ADDRESS:
Denbigh Castle,
Denbigh
LL16 3NB

3. TEL:
01745 813385

Laugharne Castle

This castle, situated overlooking the Taf estuary, is now more famous for its links to past resident writer Dylan Thomas than for its medieval and Tudor history.

Laugharne Castle was built in the 13th century by the de Brian family on the site of an earlier Norman castle established in 1116 by Robert Courtemain. In 1584, Elizabeth I granted the castle to Sir John Perrot, who was rumoured to have been an illegitimate son of Henry VIII. Perrot set about renovating the castle and turning it into a Tudor mansion, like he did with Carew Castle, remodelling the old hall, raising the height of the curtain wall by adding mock battlements, adding blocks for accommodation, raising the height of the inner gatehouse and adding gardens. However, a siege during the Civil War led to parts of the castle being destroyed by cannon fire before it was taken by Royalists. The castle then underwent further destruction to make sure that it could not be used as a fortress again, and it fell into decay.

In the early 19th century, formal gardens were laid in the outer ward and a gazebo there was used by writer Robert Hughes in the 1930s and 40s, and then Dylan Thomas resided in the castle while he was working on Portrait of the Artist as a Young Dog.

There are still many ruins to explore today
and highlights include:

- • The Victorian gardens

- • The 13th century round towers and curtain wall

- • The 13th century north-west tower, with its medieval domed roof

- • The ruins of a tower showing its Tudor circular staircase

- • Perrot’s northern range and the inner gatehouse he raised, and ruins of the great hall

1. WEB: http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/laugharnecastle/?lang=en

2. ADDRESS:
Laugharne Castle,
Camarthen,
SA33 4SA

3. TEL:
01994 427906

Mill Bay

While it’s not worth going out of your way to visit Mill Bay, where Henry VII landed on 7th August 1485, do stop by if you’re in the area. There is a commemorative plaque on the coastal path above Mill Bay commemorating his landing. Written in both Welsh and English, it reads:

Henry Tudor, Earl of Richmond, landed at Mill bay on 7 August 1485 with his 55 ships and 4,000 men landing at Dale.
Travelling through West Wales and gathering support, he then struck east
On 22 August 1485 Henry defeated Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth and became King Henry VII founder of the Tudor dynasty.

1. ADDRESS:
Near Dale Village,
Milford Haven,
Pembrokeshire
SA73

Neath Abbey

This abbey, located near the South Welsh town of Neath, dates back to 1129 when Richard I de Grenville gave part of his estate to monks of the Savigniac Order so that they could build a daughter house for the Abbey of Holy Trinity at Savigny. In 1147, the abbey was absorbed into the Cistercian Order and buildings were added to it in the 13th and 14th centuries. By the end of the 13th century, the abbey had become one of the wealthiest monastic houses in Wales, owning large estates in South Wales, Devon and Somerset.

Although the abbey was plundered at various times in the 14th century and experienced financial problems in the 15th century, it was able to recover. It was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539 and in 1542 was granted to Sir Richard Williams (alias Cromwell), nephew of Thomas Cromwell. It is thought that he and his son were responsible for transforming the south-eastern cloister ranges into a Tudor mansion.

Fortunately for visitors today, although the abbey is in ruins, it is fairly complete, as is the 16th century mansion.

Highlights include:

- • The fairly complete late 12th/early 13th century west range

- 13th century dormitory undercroft

- • Ruins of the late 13th/14th century abbey church

- • Remains of the Tudor mansion, with its large rectangular windows

1. WEB: http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/neathabbeyandgatehouse/?lang=en

2. ADDRESS:
Neath Abbey and Gatehouse,
Neath
SA10 7DW

3. TEL:
01443 336000

Oxwich Castle

Situated on a wooded headland above Oxwich Bay stands the Tudor fortified manor house known as Oxwich Castle. Built in a courtyard style by Sir Rice Mansel and his son Edward in the 16th century, Oxwich features a mock-military gateway, emblazoned with the family’s coat of arms, a multi-storeyed range with impressive hall and elegant long gallery, which gave panoramic sea views, and a six-storey tower.

In the 1630s, the Mansel family left the property, preferring to use their house at Margam, and Oxwich gradually fell into disrepair, although the south range was used for some time as a farmhouse. It was saved from demolition in 1949 by Lady Apsley and is now maintained by Cadw, the Historic Environment division of the Welsh government.

Highlights include:

- • The Tudor gateway decorated with the arms of Sir Rice Mansel

- • The substantial ruins, which include the southern block, eastern range, the window of the long gallery, south-west tower and dovecote

1. WEB: http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/oxwichcastle/?lang=en

2. ADDRESS:
Oxwich Castle,
Gower,
Swansea
SA3 1ND

3. TEL:
01792 390359

Pembroke Castle

For the Tudor enthusiast there is no other building as significant as Pembroke Castle, birthplace of King Henry VII, founder of the Tudor dynasty, father of Henry VIII and grandfather of Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I.

Although the small inner bailey dates back to 1093, its famous stone keep, with its huge cylindrical tower and stone dome, was added in the late 12th century and the majority of the castle was built around the turn of the 13th century by William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke. An interesting feature of this later work is the gatehouse, which had three portcullises and a battlemented flying arch.

Pembroke Castle is not only known for its incredible architecture and links to Harri Tudur (Henry Tudor), but also for the fact that it is the only British castle to be built over a natural cavern, the Wogan Cavern. The castle also has an oubliette at the bottom of the aptly named Dungeon Tower. Castle prisoners were thrown into this deep hole in the ground, and left there to rot.

Set in beautiful grounds, the castle is largely preserved with many interesting features surviving. Visitors can enjoy its seemingly endless passageways, tunnels and winding staircases, or take in the views from St Anne’s Bastion.

Highlights include:

- • The gatehouse and by-gate tower

- • The keep

- • The Dungeon Tower

- • The Henry VII Tower – said to be the birthplace of Henry VII

- • The spectacular views from St Anne’s Bastion

- • Brass rubbing centre

1. WEB: http://pembroke-castle.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Pembroke Castle,
Pembroke,
Pembrokeshire
SA71 4LA

3. TEL:
01646 684585

Plas Mawr

Plas Mawr, or “The Great Hall”, is an Elizabethan townhouse located in the heart of the town of Conwy, North Wales. Described by Cadw, the historic environment service of the Welsh government, as “an Elizabethan gem worth its weight in gold”, Plas Mawr was built between 1576 and 1585 by well-travelled and influential merchant Robert Wynn. Wynn’s house stands as testimony to his love of grandeur, colour and hospitality, with its colourful ornamental plasterwork and friezes, and the skilful carpentry. The house’s furnishings are based on an inventory taken in 1665 and many are original, and the décor and gardens are also based on what the house would have looked like in 1665 in the time of Robert Wynn’s grandson, also Robert.

The house is little changed from its 16th century state and is considered by historian Rick Turner as “the finest surviving town house of the Elizabethan era”. Cadw spent £3.3 million on a forty-two-month-long restoration project at Plas Mawr and won the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors Building Conservation Award

Highlights include:

- • The ornamental plasterwork in the hall and great chamber, which has been repainted in its vivid, original colours

- • The crests, coats of arms and “RW” initials in the ornamental plasterwork

- • Multi-sensory displays on Plas Mawr’s history

- • The gatehouse, with its Renaissance crow-stepped gables, pedimented windows and heraldry

1. WEB: http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/plasmawr/?lang=en

2. ADDRESS:
Plas Mawr,
High Street,
Conwy,
LL32 8DE

3. TEL:
01492 580167

Raglan Castle

This majestic late medieval castle, situated just north of the village of Raglan in Monmouthshire, was begun in the 1430s by William ap Thomas, who fought alongside Henry VI at the Battle of Agincourt, and remodelled in the 1460s by his son, also William, who used the surname Herbert. In the Elizabethan period, there were some alterations by William Somerset, Earl of Worcester.

The castle was built using two different types of sandstone and featured huge mullioned windows, an oriel window, a long gallery, a French influenced polygonal keep and double-drawbridge, and the great tower, which is known as “the Yellow Tower of Gwent”.

Raglan was garrisoned for the king during the English Civil War and was besieged, suffering damage from heavy artillery. Although Oliver Cromwell’s men sought to demolish as much of the castle as they could, and two of the six sides of the great tower were pulled down, the castle’s ruins today are substantial and it is a magnificent example of late medieval and Tudor architecture.

Highlights include:

- • The Fountain Court

- • Tudor ovens and fireplaces

- • Ruins of the great tower

- • The imposing great gatehouse

- • Ruins of the great hall and the oriel window

1. WEB: http://cadw.gov.wales/daysout/raglancastle/?lang=en

2. ADDRESS:
Raglan Castle,
Raglan,
Usk
NP15 2BT

3. TEL:
01291 690228

Tudor Merchant’s House, Tenby

The Tudor Merchant’s House was given to the National Trust by the Tenby Corporation in 1937. It is thought to be the most complete surviving example of Tenby’s Tudor domestic architecture and is listed Grade II. Covenants are held over the adjoining Plantagenet House, which formerly connected with the Tudor Merchant’s House and is of equal antiquity, concealed behind an 18th and 19th century façade.

In the absence of documentary evidence, a 15th century date is accepted by many for this small first floor hall house, which may have been associated with Tenby’s heyday as a port. Strategically placed in relation to the Bristol Channel and Irish Sea, Tenby was a prosperous medieval and Tudor port. Of significance to the survival of the Tudor Merchant’s House is the prolonged period of decline that Tenby underwent after 1600. Contributing factors were the disruption of sea trade by foreign wars, the ascendance of Pembroke and Narberth as market towns, the Civil War, outbreaks of plague and increasing control of fish stocks by West of England fishermen. Decline resulted in the survival of many medieval and Tudor buildings, albeit in ruinous condition, until the fourth quarter of the 18th century, when Tenby began to emerge as a seaside resort and spa town. Most of medieval and Tudor Tenby was demolished or re-modelled to make way for the Georgian and Victorian terraces that now characterise the town. The Tudor Merchant’s House is the only domestic building to have survived intact the late 18th and 19th century re-building of Tenby and bear witness to the town’s early origins and pre-eminence.

Highlights include:

- • Views of the harbour and coast from the bedchamber window

- • The latrine and cesspit

- • Try on Tudor clothes in the bedchamber

- • The Tudor toys in the hall

- • The Tudor kitchen

- The Tudor shopfront

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/tudor-merchants-house/

2. ADDRESS:
Tenby Merchant’s House,
Quay Hill,
Tenby,
Pembrokeshire
SA70 7BX

3. TEL:
01834 842279

Ty Mawr Wybrnant

This 16th century traditional stone-built upland farmhouse on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park was the birthplace of Bishop William Morgan, the first translator of the whole Bible into Welsh, who was born there in 1545. The house is owned by the National Trust and has been restored to its 16th appearance. Ty Mawr Wybrnant now houses a Bible collection, with Bibles in about 200 different languages, including Morgan’s 1588 Welsh Bible. The revised 1620 edition is still used in Wales today.

Highlights include:

- • Bishop William Morgan’s Bibles – the 1588 and 1620 editions

- • The pretty stone farmhouse and bridge over the stream

- • Walks from the house through woodland, including the 3-mile Ty Mawr Wybrnant and Cwm Wybrnant walk

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/ty-mawr-wybrnant/

2. ADDRESS:
Ty Mawr Wybrnant,
Penmachno,
Betws-y-coed,
Conwy
LL25 0HJ

3. TEL:
1690 760213

NORTH
WEST

Cheshire

Cumbria

Greater Manchester

Lancashire

Merseyside

Bramall Hall

Bramall Hall is a beautiful black-and-white timber-framed Tudor manor house set within 70 acres of parkland and located in the metropolitan borough of Stockport, Greater Manchester.

The manor started life as two separate manors pre Norman Conquest, each being held by Saxon freemen, but in around 1070, William the Conqueror gave both manors to Hamon de Masci, the first Baron of Dunham Massey, and it was held by the Massey family until the early 12th century when it passed to the de Bromale family. In 1370, Alice de Bromale married John de Davenport and it stayed in their ownership until 1877.

It is believed that the Davenports built the Tudor manor house in the late 14th/early 15th century. It was built in the traditional Tudor way: a framework of oak timbers filled with wattle and daub, or lath and plaster. However, Charles Nevill, the Victorian owner of the manor, carried out extensive improvements and changes in the 1890s to the building’s interior and to its parkland, which was designed in the style of Capability Brown.

Highlights include:

- • The manor’s 16th Century wall paintings

- • Its Elizabethan fine plaster ceiling

- • The Victorian kitchens and servants quarters

- • The beautiful parkland and attractive formal garden areas

- • The manor house itself, which is said to be “one of Cheshire’s grandest black-and-white timber-framed buildings” and “one of the most beautiful treasures of England”

1. WEB: http://www.stockport.gov.uk/services/leisureculture/museumsandgalleries/bramallhall/

2. ADDRESS:
Bramall Hall,
Bramhall Park,
Bramhall,
Stockport
SK7 3NX

3. TEL: 0161 474 2020

Browsholme Hall

Browsholme Hall claims to be “the oldest surviving family home in Lancashire”, having been built by Edmund Parker in 1507. Further building work was carried out in the early 17th century and a formal garden was added in 1674.

The house is still owned by the Parker family today and boasts a collection of furniture, portraits, arms and armour, Chinese porcelain, and other historical artefacts collected by the fourteen generations who have occupied it.

Highlights include:

- • The hall which dates back to 1507 and which is described as “arguably the finest surviving antiquarian interior in England”. Artefacts on display in this room include a skull said to be of a martyr from the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion, and a peg tankard said to have been in use since the reign of Edward III

- • The library, with its 17th century panelling

- • The main staircase which leads visitors past a “jigsaw” of stained glass made up of pieces from the 13th to 19th centuries

1. WEB: http://www.browsholme.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Browsholme Hall
Clitheroe Road
Cow Ark
Clitheroe
Lancashire
BB7 3DE

3. TEL:
01254 827166

Dalemain Historic House
and Gardens

Dalemain has been home to the Hasell family for eleven generations and dates back to the 12th century when a pele tower was built on the site. A manor house was added in the 14th century and two further wings built in the 16th century. The frontage, or façade, was added in 1744.

Highlights include the 16th century plaster ceiling and oak panelling of the Fretwork Room, the original 18th century hand-painted wallpaper in the Chinese Room, the collections of fine art and furniture, and the award-winning gardens, which include an Elizabethen knot garden and a 16th century apple house.

1. WEB: http://www.dalemain.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Dalemain House & Gardens
Penrith,
Cumbria
CA11 0HB

3. TEL:
017684 86450

Furness Abbey

The stunning ruins of Furness Abbey are located just outside the town of Barrow-in-Furness in the picturesque Cumbrian countryside. Now managed by English Heritage, the ruins have seen major intervention in order to conserve them for the future. The abbey’s medieval foundations were built from oak, which has, throughout its 500 year history, inevitably rotted, leaving them vulnerable.

Also known as St Mary of Furness, this sandstone abbey was founded for the Cistercian order by Stephen, later King of England, in 1123. It is famed for being the first monastery to voluntarily surrender its possessions to Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. In 2012, a hoard of medieval treasures was discovered at the abbey in the grave of a Cistercian abbot. The hoard included a crozier and a beautiful gemstone ring, which are now in display at Furness. There is also a collection of rare and remarkable stone effigies.

A visit to Furness Abbey is a wonderful day out. The abbey’s lovely ruins and peaceful location give the site a tranquil and mysterious atmosphere, due in part to the many supernatural legends surrounding the location. At least three ghosts are said to haunt the ruins and it is even said that the Holy Grail and King John’s missing jewels are hidden in its secret passages.

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/furness-abbey/

2. ADDRESS:
Furness Abbey
Manor Road,
Barrow-in-Furness,
Cumbria
LA13 0PJ

3. TEL:
0370 333 1181

Gawsworth Hall

Gawsworth dates back to Norman times, but the stunning black-and-white Tudor manor house we see today was built in 1480. It is thanks to the rather lurid exploits of Mary Fitton, daughter of Sir Edward Fitton who owned the house in Elizabeth I’s reign, that the house acquires some of its most entertaining historical anecdotes. Alleged to have been the infamous “Dark Lady” of Shakespeare’s Sonnets, Mary enjoyed a short spell of favour at the court of Queen Elizabeth I, where she became one of the queen’s maid-of-honours. Mary’s family spent exorbitant sums of money on the hall in the hope of a royal visit, but Mary’s court career was doomed to end in tragedy and dishonour. Following a tempestuous affair with the Earl of Pembroke, Mary became pregnant and so offended Elizabeth that she was dismissed from court and threatened with imprisonment in the Tower of London.

Nowadays, Gawsworth Hall is a much more peaceful place. It is owned and managed by the Richards family, who take enormous pride in their property’s many treasures, which include collections of fine paintings, furniture, stained glass and sculpture. There is also an open-air theatre at Gawsworth, where performances can be enjoyed during the summer months.

Highlights include:

- • Performances at the open-air theatre

- • The chapel’s stained glass windows

- • The hall’s collection of paintings and sculptures

- • The grounds, which include a rookery, tilting ground and Elizabethan pleasure garden

1. WEB: http://www.gawsworthhall.com/index.asp

2. ADDRESS:
Gawsworth Hall,
Church Lane,
Gawsworth,
Cheshire
SK11 9RN

3. TEL:
01260 223456

Gawthorpe Hall

This “Elizabethan gem in the heart of industrial Lancashire” is described as the “Downton of the North”. The hall’s foundation stone was laid in 1600, but the building was dovetailed around a pele tower built by the Shuttleworth family in the 14th century. It was redesigned by Sir Charles Barry, designer of the Houses of Parliament and Highclere Castle, the filming location of Downton Abbey, in the 1850s, so is a mix of styles.

Highlights include:

- • Period rooms from the 1850 remodelling of the hall

- • Original plasterwork ceilings

- • Original 17th century panelling

- • The impressive long gallery

- • The Gawthorpe textile collection

- • Paintings loaned from the National Portrait Gallery

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/gawthorpe-hall/visitor-information/

2. ADDRESS:
Gawthorpe Hall
Burnley Rd,
Padiham,
Burnley,
Lancashire
BB12 8UA

3. TEL:
01282 771004

Hoghton Tower

Hoghton Tower was originally built as the ancestral home of the de Hoghton family in 1109 but then re-built by Thomas Hoghton in 1565 as a fortified manor house. This hilltop house is situated 650 feet above sea level and gives magnificent views of Lancashire, the Lake District and North Wales. It is described as being “the only true baronial hall in Lancashire”, and is built from sandstone with stone slate roofs.

Guests to the house have included William Shakespeare, James I, William III, George V and Queen Mary, J. M. W. Turner, Charles Dickens, and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

Highlights include:

- • The panelled state rooms

- • Beautiful walled gardens

- • Dolls house collection

- • Underground passages, ramparts and dungeons

1. WEB: http://www.hoghtontower.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Hoghton Tower,
Hoghton,
North Preston,
Lancashire
PR5 0SH

3. TEL:
01254 852986

Levens Hall

Levens Hall dates back to the 14th century, when the de Redman family built a pele tower on the site, but most of what visitors see today is what was added to the building by the Bellingham family in the reign of Elizabeth I. The Elizabethan manor house features original fine oak panelling and ornate plasterwork, and the coat of arms of Elizabeth I above the fireplace of the great hall.

Highlights include:

- • Snaphaunce pistols from 1601 displayed over the fireplace in the great hall

- • Civil War armour

- • Paintings including a portrait of Anne of Hungary by Sir Peter Paul Rubens and The Holy Family by Pieter Koeck van Aels

- • An Elizabethan refectory table

- • The gardens, which were laid out in the 1690s and which feature over 100 pieces of topiary.

The hall is said to be haunted by several ghosts including a grey lady and a little black dog.

1. WEB: http://www.levenshall.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Levens Hall,
Kendal,
Cumbria
LA8 0PD

3. TEL:
01539 560321

Little Moreton Hall

Little Moreton Hall is a beautiful Tudor property in Congleton, Cheshire. Work started on the building around 1504-1508 and the last building work was carried out in 1610. It was built for the Moreton family, who were wealthy landowners, and didn’t leave the family’s possession until 1938 when the National Trust took it over.

The moated, timber-framed manor house is such a quirky building and its very existence after all this time seems to defy logic. This crooked house really does look like it’s going to fall down at any minute and looks rather like the Weasley family house, The Burrow, in the Harry Potter films, with its top-heavy appearance. Little Moreton Hall lacks foundations and the weight of its upper floor, with its long gallery and heavy gritstone slabbed roof, has caused the floors below to bow.

Features of Little Moreton Hall include:

- • Its beautiful Tudor knot garden, which is full of herbs and vegetables that were used for food and medicine in Tudor times

- • Its timbered façade, with chevron, lozenge and herringbone patterns

- • The 16th century glazing

- • The 16th century carved wooden panelling and ceiling, and the bay window and stained glass in the withdrawing room

- • The long gallery

- • The 16th century furniture which is on display in the great hall and the parlour

- • The tester bed in the first floor south chamber, which is used to show exactly how Tudor people slept

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/little-moreton-hall/visitor-information/

2. ADDRESS:
Little Moreton Hall,
Congleton,
Cheshire,
CW12 4SD

3. TEL:
01260 272018

Muncaster Castle

Muncaster Castle, which overlooks the River Esk, is thought to have been built on Roman foundations that date back to c.79 AD, and the Pennington family have owned the land since it was granted to them in 1208. A castle was built on the land in c.1258 and then enlarged in the 14th century, with the pele tower being added. During the Wars of the Roses, Sir John Pennington sheltered Henry VI at Muncaster after the Battle of Hexham.

Muncaster is said to be one of Britain’s most haunted castles and one ghost, Tom Skelton or Tom Fool, is blamed for playing tricks on visitors. Tom was a servant, steward and court jester at Muncaster in the 16th century and is said to have inspired the fool in Shakespeare’s King Lear. According to legend, Tom decapitated the local carpenter, who was having an affair with the lord of Muncaster’s daughter.

As well as the castle itself, visitors can enjoy the gardens with their large collections of rhododendrons, the Sino Himalayan Gardens, Muncaster’s “Bluebell Heaven” in the woodlands above the castle (mid-April to mid-May), and the Hawk and Owl Centre.

1. WEB: http://www.muncaster.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Muncastler Castle,
Ravenglass,
Cumbria
CA18 1RQ

3. TEL:
01229 717614

Naworth Castle

Naworth Castle, near Brampton in Cumbria, is the seat of the Howard family, the earls of Carlisle, and is a medieval castle dating back to the late 13th century when a stone square keep and bailey were built on the site. Ralph Dacre, 1st Baron Dacre, was granted a licence to crenelate in 1335. In the 16th century, his descendant Thomas, Lord Dacre, who fought at the 1513 Battle of Flodden, extended the castle, adding residential quarters. The castle passed into the hands of the Howard family when Thomas Howard, 4th Duke of Norfolk, married the widow of Dacre, who had died in 1560. At the turn of the 17th century, Lord William Howard carried out further work on the castle, extending it further. In the 18th century, a walled garden was laid out where the castle’s moat once was. Artist and socialist William Turner visited the castle in 1874, writing of how it it had not been touched since the reign of Elizabeth I and that “the whole place is certainly the most poetical in England”.

Naworth Castle declined in importance as the Howard family spent more and more time at Castle Howard. Today, it is a private home but is offering accommodation from the 2016 season onwards and private tours.

1. WEB: http://www.naworth.co.uk/

2. ADDRESS:
Naworth Castle,
Naworth,
Brampton
CA8 2HF

3. TEL:
016977 3229

Ordsall Hall

Salford’s Ordsall Hall dates back to the 12th century but the black-and-white half-timbered manor house we see today was built between the 15th and 17th centuries. According to its website, the hall “has been home to medieval gentry, Tudor nobility, Catholics loyal to the crown, butchers, farmers, an Earl, an artist, priests, scout troops, mill workers, cows and several ghosts”.

Tudor history lovers will enjoy seeing the 15th century timber-framed south range, the Radclyffe Bed, which is thought to date back to the early 1570s when it was made to commemorate the marriage of John Radclyffe (c.1536-1590) to Anne Asshawe (1548-1629), and the gardens, which include a Tudor-style knot garden and a herb garden. Look out for the White Lady, who is said to haunt the great hall and star chamber, and the ghosts of Sir John Radclyffe and Cecily, a young girl whose ghost is accompanied by the fragrance of roses.

1. WEB: http://www.salfordcommunityleisure.co.uk/culture/ordsall-hall

2. ADDRESS:
Ordsall Hall
322 Ordsall Lane,
Ordsall,
Salford
M5 3AN

3. TEL:
0161 872 0251

Rufford Old Hall

Rufford Old Hall is a handsome 16th century timber-framed manor house with notable later additions.

In terms of age, integrity, fine proportions and decorative richness, the Tudor great hall is a rare and important survivor. It is all that remains of a magnificent home built around 1530 by Sir Robert Hesketh, whose family had been lords of the manor for at least seven generations.

Its fine hammer beam roof gave it an importance in its own day which has not diminished in 500 years. By the 16th century, the Heskeths were among the wealthiest of Lancashire landowners. The Elizabethan Sir Thomas Hesketh (1526-88) kept a company of players, and a young William Shakespeare may have acted at Rufford in the 1580s – you can hear the stories and make up your own mind.

The one piece of original furniture to survive from the Tudor period is the richly carved ‘movable’ screen in the great hall, the only one of its kind known in the country to have survived intact.

A brick wing of classical style was added in 1662, but in the later rebuilding of the timber-framed accommodation - in the 1720s and again in the 1820s - the Tudor Gothic style prevailed, in homage to the great hall. The house also displays collections of carved oak furniture, tapestries, and stained glass – all prerequisites of the Gothic Revival interior beloved of the Victorians.

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/rufford-old-hall/

2. ADDRESS:
Rufford Old Hall
200 Liverpool Rd,
Rufford,
Ormskirk,
Lancashire
L40 1SG

3. TEL:
01704 821254

Sizergh Castle

Sizergh Castle is a beautiful medieval house set in the Cumbrian countryside near Kendal. The Strickland family have lived on the site for over 750 years, but the earliest part of the present house is its impressive four-storey solar tower. The remainder of the fortified manor house was built in the Tudor period. It is believed that Catherine Parr, Henry VIII’s sixth and final wife, lived at Sizergh with the Strickland family following the death of her first husband, Sir Edward Burgh, in 1533.

Highlights for visitors include its fine Elizabethan carved over mantels, its collection of family portraits, and portraits of the Catholic Royal Stuart family, and its gardens, which include a kitchen garden, wildflower and water gardens, and the National Trust’s largest limestone rock garden.

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sizergh/

2. ADDRESS:
Sizergh Castle,
Sizergh,
near Kendal,
Cumbria
LA8 8AE

3. TEL:
01539 560951

Speke Hall

This black-and-white, Tudor, timber-framed manor house dates back to 1530 when it was built by the Catholic Norris family. Although it was neglected in the 18th and 19th centuries, and was even used as a cow shed at one point, it has been lovingly restored to its former glory. It has a magnificent great hall and also has features essential to a Catholic family in the Elizabethan period - priest and spy holes, and an eavesdropper.

Other highlights include the Victorian kitchen, Jacobean plasterwork and intricately carved furniture, woodland walks and views over the Mersey basin and Wirral peninsula.

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/speke-hall/

2. ADDRESS:
Speke Hall,
The Walk,
Liverpool,
Merseyside
L24 1XD

3. TEL:
0151 427 7231

Carlisle Park and the William Turner Garden

Carlisle Park (also known as Morpeth Park) is situated at the heart of the town of Morpeth in Northumberland. It is a lovely example of an English town park with facilities and attractions for all the family.

Within Carlisle Park is a tranquil and beautiful area that is home to the William Turner Garden. One of Morpeth’s most distinguished sons, the legendary ‘Father of English Botany’, William Turner was born in 1508, leaving the town to study medicine at Pembroke College, Cambridge. Turner’s life’s work was dedicated to the study and cultivation of plants for medicinal purposes and throughout his career he created the now recognisable English names for many species that had previously only be known by their Latin names. In coining terms that we still use today, such as daffodil and daisy, Turner was responsible for the opening up of botany to the layperson.

Constructed in his honour, the William Turner Garden at Morpeth features a reconstructed Tudor garden, including a traditional knot garden and physic beds containing examples of some of the medicinal plants with which William Turner worked.

The William Turner Garden is located within the formal gardens of Carlisle Park

1. WEB: http://www.northumberland.gov.uk/default.aspx?page=9122

2. ADDRESS:
Carlisle Park,
Off Castle Square,
Morpeth,
Northumberland
NE61 1YD.

3. TEL:
01670 623509

YORKSHIRE
&
HUMBER

Yorkshire

North Lincolnshire

North East Lincolnshire

Barley Hall

Barley Hall is a stunning medieval house, once home to the priors of Nostell and the Mayor of York, William Snawsell. Until the 1980s, the house was hidden under the relatively modern façade of a derelict office block. Only when the building was going to be destroyed was the amazing medieval building discovered and its history uncovered.

Master Snawsell lived in the house for at least twenty years from the mid-1460s to the late 1480s. In 1540, along with all monastic property, the building was confiscated by the crown. By the seventeenth century it was almost certainly divided up into several smaller dwellings with the result that the screens passage – the internal corridor area at the end of the great hall – came to be used as a public short-cut through from Stonegate to Swinegate. It remains a public right-of-way through the heart of Master Snawsell’s house.

Discover how the people of York fared in medieval times against terrible diseases and even worse cures. Featuring clips and costumes from the BBC’s Horrible Histories television show, you can explore the different characters found in medieval York, such as the eerie Plague Doctor and his herb-filled mask or the grim Barber Surgeon and his box of “tools”.

There’s the chance to get hands-on with the herbs and cures of the time and a display of archaeological evidence found in York’s cemeteries. What diseases did the people of York have? How did it affect them? What did they use to cure it? And what killed them in the end?

Visitors to this lovingly restored medieval building will delight in its high ceilings, exposed timber frames, horn window and magnificent great hall. Enjoy this building just as it was in the lord mayor’s lifetime.

1. WEB: http://barleyhall.co.uk/about-barley-hall/

2. ADDRESS:
Barley Hall,
2 Coffee Yard,
York,
YO1 8AR

3. TEL:
01904 615505

Richard III and Henry VII Experiences, York

Henry VII Experience, Micklegate Bar

Henry VII was the first Tudor king of England. He ruled for twenty-four years after defeating Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth. His early reign was made unstable by Yorkist rebellion and pretenders to the throne, but he established one of the most celebrated royal dynasties of the middle-ages and passed his crown to his son, Henry VIII.

Find out about his early life as an exile Lancastrian heir to the throne, see the impact on the city of York as it continued to prosper throughout his reign, and enjoy interactive experiences exploring life and death in Tudor times.

Children can get involved in the special Tudor camp featuring the gruesome bits Henry’s history provided by Horrible Histories author Terry Deary.

Micklegate Bar has served as the main gateway to the city and the route through which serving monarchs have entered York for almost 1,000 years. It has also been the place at which the heads of traitors have been displayed and where condemned prisoners spent their final days on the way to the gallows.

Experience the 15th and 16th century city of York - Henry VII first came to York in 1486, where the civic authorities welcomed him with magnificent pageantry. York’s importance as a trading centre had grown in the medieval period, and although York’s status as England’s second city was being challenged at the time of Henry’s first visit, its many craftsmen guilds continued to prosper throughout his reign.

Richard III Experience, Monk Bar

Richard III, the last Plantagenet king of England, ruled for two years from 1483 to 1485. His short reign was marked by controversy, rebellion and challenges to his throne, which led to his death at the Battle of Bosworth aged thirty-three years of age.

Find out about his early life as his brother, Edward IV, struggled for the throne of England with Henry VI. See arms and armour from his reign and enjoy multimedia presentations about the key battles of the Wars of the Roses.

Children can get involved in the special medieval camp featuring the gruesome bits of Richard’s history provided by Horrible Histories author, Terry Deary.

Monk Bar is one of four major fortified gateways on York’s city walls. It was built in several stages, beginning in the early 14th century, when the threat from a hostile Scotland was particularly great. Its top storey was added in 1484 during the reign of Richard III.

Experience the 15th century city of York - Richard III maintained close connections with York throughout his short reign and visited the city several times. Just after his coronation in 1483, he stayed for three weeks, during which time the king enjoyed pageants, plays and feasting. The highlight of this visit was the investiture of his son, Edward, as Prince of Wales at the archbishop’s palace.

1. WEB: http://richardiiiexperience.com/discover-medieval-york/about-henry-vii/ and
http://richardiiiexperience.com/discover-medieval-york/about-richard-iii/

2. ADDRESS:
Richard III & Henry VII Experiences,
Monk Bar and Micklegate Bar,
York

3. TEL:
01904 615505

Burton Agnes Hall

This Elizabethan stately home in the East Riding of Yorkshire has been in the same family for fifteen generations and dates back to 1598, when it was built by Sir Henry Griffith. There’s been a manor house on the site since the 12th century, but Burton Agnes Hall is Elizabethan and was designed by architect Robert Smithson, Master Mason to Queen Elizabeth I, and the builder of other famous houses like Longleat, Wollaton and Hardwick. As the Burton Agnes website notes, Smithson adhered to the principles of Tudor Renaissance architecture - Commoditie, Firmness and Delight – and built a beautifully proportioned house that can still be enjoyed today.

The hall’s Queen’s State Bedroom is said to be haunted by Katherine (Anne) Griffith who died there in 1620. Her skull is believed to be built into one of the walls of the great hall. It is possible to do ghost hunts at the hall.

Highlights include:

- • The original Elizabethan carving and plasterwork which can be seen in many rooms

- • The collection of French and English Impressionist paintings

- • The long gallery which gives beautiful views over Bridlington Bay

- • The award-winning gardens, which include a walled garden, maze and woodland walk

It is also possible to visit the Norman manor house built by Roger de Stuteville in 1173. Although it was encased in brick in the 17th century, the lower chamber still survives and features massive piers supporting a groined and vaulted roof, reinforced with heavy chamfered ribs.

1. WEB: http://www.burtonagnes.com/Home.html

2. ADDRESS:
Burton Agnes,
Driffield,
East Riding of Yorkshire
YO25 4NB

3. TEL:
01262 490324

Burton Constable Hall

Burton Constable Hall in East Yorkshire has been described as an “Elizabethan gem”, but the oldest part of the house, the lower part of the north tower, known as Stephen’s Tower, actually dates back to King Stephen’s reign in the 12th century. In the late 15th century, a brick manor house was built on the site and it became the seat of the Constable family, who added their name to the manor of Burton, making it Burton Constable, in the 13th century. In the 1560s, the house was rebuilt by Sir John Constable as an Elizabethan mansion. He demolished some of the earlier manor house, but kept the north tower and north lodgings, adding new stone mullioned windows and mock quoins to them. His new mansion included a stable block, a turreted gatehouse, courtyards, a south tower to match the old north one, a south wing with kitchen, lodgings and chapel, and a great hall, great chamber and parlour.

Although the hall is Elizabethan, its main rooms are decorated in an 18th century style and are filled with fine art and furniture.

Highlights for visitors include:

- • A portrait of Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex

- • The Cabinet of Curiosities of William Constable (1721-91)

- • Burton Constable’s huge collection of paintings

- • The gardens, pleasure grounds and parkland

1. WEB: http://www.burtonconstable.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Burton Constable
Skirlaugh
East Yorkshire
HU11 4LN

3. TEL:
01964 562400

Fountains Abbey

The World Heritage Site of Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal is the setting of the best preserved Cistercian monastery in the country. The ruins tell the story of 408 years of monasticism, of years of riches, ruin and revival, brought to a close by the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII. The site also encompasses Fountains Hall, Fountains Mill and the Georgian water gardens of Studley Royal.

The long history of Fountains Abbey began in 1132 when a group of thirteen disaffected monks from St Mary’s Abbey in York came to this valley to found a reformed house. After early struggles, the abbey began to thrive, prospering from farming and the wool trade, and building the abbey to the glory of God. The later middle ages brought huge challenges: much of Yorkshire was laid to waste by the Scottish raids following the Battle of Bannockburn, and the Black Death further devastated the population. The population of monks at Fountains decreased dramatically and the abbey’s granges, previously farmed by members of the monastic community, were tenanted.

However, as the Tudor period brought stability to the country, Fountains Abbey saw a period of revival. Abbot Darnton (1479-1495) carried out a programme of repair and remodelling in the church, including the addition of the vast east window. Abbot Huby (1495-1526) built the huge new tower to demonstrate the status of both abbey and abbot. This period saw a softening of the ideas of the community – there is evidence that they began to eat meat and to move from the austere cloister to more comfortable accommodation in the infirmary. There is no evidence, however, of the more colourful rule breaking that Cromwell’s visitation report “revealed”.

The general visitation of the monasteries was carried out in Yorkshire by Drs Leyton and Leigh and they arrived at Fountains in January 1536. They reported that Abbot Thirsk (1526-36), “a very foul and miserable idiot”, was stealing and selling jewels from the abbey, and that he kept six whores. Thirsk was persuaded to resign, went on to join the Pilgrimage of Grace and was executed at Tyburn.

Following the Pilgrimage of Grace, the dissolution of the larger monasteries began and on 26th November 1539, it was Fountains’ turn. In October 1540 the estate was sold to Richard Gresham, who dismantled the abbey according to the conditions of the sale. The lead from windows, roofs and pipes was removed and melted down on fires made from doors, stalls and screens. The dormitories and church were made unusable and we can still see the marks where the marble was levered off the columns in the Chapel of the Nine Altars.

In 1597, the estate was sold to Stephen Procter, who built Fountains Hall, just upriver of the abbey, from designs by the Elizabethan architect Robert Smythson and using some of the stone from the abbey.

Today’s visitor can still see much of the abbey, the great Elizabethan Fountains Hall, and the medieval mill, which saw continuous use until the 1930s.

Highlights for Tudor History lovers include:

- • The finest Cistercian monastery ruin in the country – closed down by Henry VIII in 1539

- 16th century Huby’s Tower and the Tudor remodelling of the Chapel of the Nine Altars

- • The medieval mill – in continuous use throughout the Tudor period

- • Fountains Hall – started in 1598 and completed in 1604

- • The porter’s lodge exhibition – telling the story of the abbey

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/fountains-abbey/

2. ADDRESS:
Fountains Abbey,
Fountains,
Ripon
HG4 3DY

3. TEL:
01765 608888

Jervaulx Abbey

These haunting ruins, situated in 126 acres of parkland at the entrance to Wensleydale, were once a great Cistercian Monastery. The monastery was founded in 1146 at Fors near Aysgarth but moved just a few years later due to the terrain at Fors being unsuitable. It stood for nearly 400 years, until it was pillaged after its dissolution in 1547.

In the early 19th century, Thomas Brudenell Bruce, Earl of Ailesbury, discovered the ruins and set about exploring them. Discoveries at this time included the abbey church and choir, high altar, tombs and chapter house. In 1984, restoration work and conservation work began on the site, with care being taken to protect the 200+ species of flora and fauna that had made the abbey their home.

Visitors today can enjoy the beautiful and tranquil ruins and surroundings, followed by a drink and cake in the Jervaulx Abbey Tea Rooms.

1. WEB: http://www.jervaulxabbey.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Jervaulx Abbey
Jervaulx
Ripon
HG4 4PH

3. TEL:
01677 460391

Middleham Castle

Known for being the home of Richard III and his wife Anne Neville, Middleham Castle dates back to the 12th century, when Robert FitzRanulph built a stone castle around one of the largest stone keeps found in Western Europe. This stone castle replaced a wooden motte-and-bailey castle built by Alan Rufus, nephew of William the Conqueror, after the Norman Conquest.

In the 13th century, Middleham Castle passed into the hands of the Neville family, who built the castle’s four towers and a three-storey building on the eastern side of the keep for living quarters and a chapel. Henry IV stayed at the castle when it was owned by Ralph Neville, Earl of Westmoreland, and was said to have been impressed by the accommodation.

After the death of Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick and Warwick the Kingmaker, at the Battle of Barnet in 1471, the castle became the property of Edward IV. Edward passed it on to his brother, Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who had spent his childhood at Middleham under the tutelage of Warwick the Kingmaker. After Richard III’s defeat at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, the castle fell into the hands of Henry VII and fell into disrepair. Later, during the Civil War, it was used as a prison.

Highlights include:

- • The remains of the huge stone keep

- • The Prince’s Tower - said to be where Richard III’s son, Edward, was born and died

- • The amazing ruins

- • The spectacular views

1. WEB: www.english-heritage.org.uk/daysout/properties/middleham-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Middleham Castle,
Castle Hill,
Middleham,
North Yorkshire
DL8 4QG

3. TEL:
01969 623899

Nunnington Hall

This lovely manor house is situated on the banks of the River Rye, near York. Although there are mentions of a hall on the site in records from the 13th century, the oldest parts of the surviving house were built in the 16th century by William Parr, 1st Marquess of Northampton and brother of Catherine Parr, sixth wife of Henry VIII.

The picturesque hall stands within 8 acres of grounds, which include the original walled gardens, lawns, orchards and wild flower meadows. The river also flows through the grounds.

Highlights include:

- • The Stone Hall, which acted as the property’s great hall in the 16th century

- • The 16th century Oak Bedroom, with its oak panelling and mullion windows

- • The Panelled Bedroom, whose panelling dates back to the 1630s and which has a 17th century chimneypiece

- • The Carlisle Collection – a remarkable collection of sixteen miniature rooms, complete with furniture and accessories at one-eighth of their natural size

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/nunnington-hall/

2. ADDRESS:
Nunnington Hall
Nunnington,
Near York,
Yorkshire
YO62 5UY

3. TEL:
01439 748283

Pontefract Castle

Pontefract Castle, or Pomfret Castle as it was known in the past, dates back to the 1070s/1080s when a motte and bailey castle was built on the site by Norman noble Ilbert de Lacy. Over time, the original wooden structure was replaced with stone. Although it was once one of the most impressive castles in Yorkshire, Pontefract has been a ruin since 1644 after it was besieged three times during the English Civil War. Visitors can still see parts of the 12th century castle wall, the Piper Tower’s postern gate, the ruins of the Round Tower or keep, the dungeons complete with prisoners’ names scratched into the walls, the chapel foundations and the remains of the donjon.

Famous prisoners include Richard II, who died at the castle, James I of Scotland and Charles Duc d’Orleans. Pontefract was one of Richard III’s residences and Tudor history lovers will be interested to know that the castle yielded to the rebels of the Pilgrimace of Grace in October 1536 and that it was visited by Henry VIII and Queen Catherine Howard on their royal progress of summer 1541.

1. WEB: http://www.wakefield.gov.uk/residents/events-and-culture/castles/pontefract-castle

2. ADDRESS:
Pontefract Castle
Castle Chain
Pontefract
WF8 1QH

3. TEL:
01977 723440

Rievaulx Abbey

This Cistercian abbey was founded in 1132 and became one of the most influential abbeys in the north of England, housing a community of 650 people in the 1160s.

It was dissolved in 1538 and pillaged for its lead, but its ironworks, which included a prototype blast furnace, continued to be used well into the 17th century. After that, it became a haunt for poets, painters, and scholars who appreciated its romantic ruins and setting.

Rievaulx is said to be the most complete and impressive abbey in the whole of the UK, and its location on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors is just stunning. Visitors can listen to an audio tour, follow in the footsteps of medieval pilgrims by doing the one-hour Helmsley Castle to Rievaulx Abbey walk, or simply enjoy the beautiful scenery.

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/rievaulx-abbey/

2. ADDRESS:
Rievaulx
Nr Helmsley,
North Yorkshire
YO62 5LB

3. TEL:
01439 798228

Royal Armouries, Leeds

The Royal Armouries is home to the national collection of arms and armour. There are Tudor pieces on display at their historic home, the White Tower in the Tower of London, and also at their museum in Leeds.

Henry VIII was the founding father of their collection. The arms and armour made for him, his personal guard and his army, still form the core of the collection they hold in trust for the nation.

The armours of King Henry VIII stand as a lasting monument to the sheer physical size of the monarch who stands like a colossus over the making of modern Britain. Yet the armours and weapons of the king bear witness to his involvement in European politics, his alliances and wars with other heads of state such as Francis I of France and the Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I. They also illuminate his interest in the latest military inventions, as well as his patronage of some of the finest artists and craftsmen of his day.

The Tournament Gallery showcases some of King Henry VIII’s finest armours – the Tonlet and Foot combat. Both were manufactured for the Field of Cloth of Gold (1520). Also on display is the beautifully decorated Burgundian Bard. This horse armour was a gift from Holy Roman Emperor Maximilian I to mark Henry’s marriage to Catherine of Aragon in 1509.

The unusual Horned Helmet, with its strange horns and spectacles, also formed part of the gift from Maximilian, and now provides a centrepiece to the museum’s displays. Academic debate still rages over the origins of the piece and its intended purpose.

There are also several armours, from the reign of Elizabeth I, crafted for her favoured courtiers by the Greenwich Armourers.

The museum’s exhibits are brought to life with armoured combat demonstrations, talks and handling sessions.

1. WEB: https://www.royalarmouries.org/home

2. ADDRESS:
Royal Armouries Museum
Armouries Drive
Leeds
LS10 1LT

3. TEL:
0113 220 1999

Scarborough Castle

English Heritage describes how a visit to Scarborough Castle allows visitors to “step into 3,000 years of history”. However, the castle as we know it today dates back to the 12th century, when it was developed by the famous medieval kings Henry II and King John.

Piers Gaveston, favourite of Edward II and governor of Scarborough Castle, sought sanctuary at the castle in 1312, but the castle was besieged and then taken. Gaveston was killed after being taken prisoner. The castle was attacked several times during the Hundred Years War.

Richard III, who had been granted the castle in 1472 while he was Duke of Gloucester, stayed at the castle in 1484 and was the last monarch to reside there.

In 1536, during the Pilgrimage of Grace rebellion in Henry VIII’s reign, Robert Aske and his rebels besieged the castle, which was governed by Sir Ralph Evers (or Eure), but the castle remained loyal to the king and the rebels were forced to give up.

Visitors can enjoy views over the bays of Scarborough, browse the exhibition of artefacts in the Master Gunner’s House, and stroll around the ruins and the perimeter of the 16-acre site.

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/scarborough-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Scarborough Castle
Castle Road,
Scarborough,
North Yorkshire,
YO11 1HY

3. TEL:
01723 372451

Sheffield Manor Lodge

This manor was built by the fourth Earl of Shrewsbury in around 1510, although it is thought that some kind of lodge existed there from the 12th century. It was surrounded by a large deer park and was a hunting lodge or country retreat for the earl. It is famous for being the place where Cardinal Wolsey stayed on his way to London to stand trial and as the place where Mary, Queen of Scots, was kept under house arrest by the 6th Earl of Shrewsbury, George Talbot, and his wife, Bess of Hardwick.

The remains of Sheffield Manor Lodge include the Grade II listed Turret House, parts of the kitchens and the long gallery. Following its appearance on series 2 of the BBC2 Restoration series in 2004, a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund was successful for £1.25 million. This resulted in a new Discovery Centre, a revamped Turret House, landscaping and the restoration of the scheduled ancient monument.

Highlights include:

- • The costumed characters

- • The Tudor Turret House, with its ornate plasterwork ceilings, original stone spiral staircase and other period features

1. WEB: http://sheffieldmanorlodge.org/

2. ADDRESS:
Sheffield Manor Lodge
389 Manor Lane,
Sheffield
S2 1UL

3. TEL:
0114 276 2828

Skipton Castle

Skipton Castle dates back to 1090 when it was built as a motte and bailey castle by Robert de Romille, a Norman baron. It was rebuilt as a stone castle in the 12th century and in 1310 was granted to the Clifford family by King Edward II, following the appointment of Robert Clifford as first Lord Clifford of Skipton and Guardian of Craven. Clifford set about fortifying the castle, but just four years later he was killed at the Battle of Bannockburn.

The Cliffords held the castle until 1461, during the Wars of the Roses, when John Clifford was killed and Henry Clifford was forced into hiding. Edward IV granted it to William Stanley who, in 1472, then exchanged it for Chirk Castle. Skipton then became the property of Richard, Duke of Gloucester who, as Richard III, was killed at the Battle of Bosworth in August 1485. Henry VII then returned the castle to Henry Clifford.

During the Civil War, the castle was a Royalist stronghold and was attacked and besieged by Parliamentarians, finally surrendering in December 1645. Some damage was done to the castle, for example, Cromwell ordered the removal of its roofs, but it was not too serious and the owner, Lady Anne Clifford, ordered repairs.

Skipton Castle is now regarded as “one of the most complete and well-preserved medieval castles in England.”

Highlights include:

- • The huge round gatehouse towers

- • Conduit Court - the cobbled Tudor courtyard

- • The ancient yew tree that is said to have been planted by Lady Anne Clifford in the 17th century

- 14th century kitchen

- 14th century chapel

- 13th century watchtower

1. WEB: http://www.skiptoncastle.co.uk/index.asp?page=1

2. ADDRESS:
Skipton Castle
The Bailey,
Skipton,
North Yorkshire
BD23 1AW

3. TEL:
01756 792442

Whitby Abbey

This clifftop Benedictine site actually dates back to the 7th century when it was founded by Oswy, the Saxon King. In the 9th century it was abandoned after being attacked by the Vikings but was refounded in 1078. The ruins we see today date to the 13th century and its easy to see why they were used as settings for scenes in Bram Stoker’s Gothic masterpiece “Dracula”. Stoker was inspired by the imposing ruins, and the ancient Whitby legend of the monstrous black dog, or barguest, which leapt ashore as Russian schooner The Demetrios (renamed the Demeter by Stoker) sank in the turbulent seas beneath the abbey. The dog was said to have run up the 199 steps to the graveyard beside the abbey and then disappeared among the dead.

Whitby Abbey was dissolved by Henry VIII in 1539 but its ruins, with their remnants of richly carved details and mouldings, can still be enjoyed by visitors today.

Highlights include:

- • The beautiful Gothic ruins and the audio tour which guides visitors around them

- • Panoramic views over the harbour, town and surrounding countryside

- • The Mansion Visitor Centre – This is located in the mansion adjacent to the ruins, built by the Cholmley family following the suppression of the abbey

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/whitby-abbey/

2. ADDRESS:
Whitby Abbey
Abbey Lane,
Whitby,
North Yorkshire,
YO22 4JT

3. TEL:
01947 603568

York Minster

York Minster, or the Cathedral and Metropolitical Church of St Peter, is York’s beautiful cathedral and the seat of the Archbishop of York. The original church was destroyed by fire in the 8th century but was then rebuilt to be a huge building with thirty altars. The church has been damaged and rebuilt at various times throughout its history, and the Gothic-style cathedral we know today dates from between 1220 and 1472. It is known as one of the finest medieval buildings in Europe and its features include:

- • The Great East Window – measuring 23.7m by 9.4m, this is said to be the largest medieval stained glass window in the world

- • The Rose Window – this commemorates the union of Henry VII and Elizabeth of York, i.e. the union of the Houses of Lancaster and York

- • The choir screen with its sculptures of fifteen kings

- • The 13th century chapter house

- • The decorated 13th century Gothic nave, which is the widest in Europe and is also one of the highest

- • The undercroft – the interactive “Revealing York Minster in the Undercroft” exhibition takes visitors through the 2,000 year history of the minster and displays interesting artefacts and relics

- • The Central Tower – climb the steps of the minster’s central tower for a breathtaking view of York

1. WEB: http://www.yorkminster.org/home.html

2. ADDRESS:
York Minster
Deangate,
York
YO1 7HH

3. TEL:
01904 557200

NORTH
EAST

Northumberland

County Durham

Tyne and Wear

Tees Valley

Site of the Battle of Flodden

The Battle of Flodden was fought on 9th September 1513 between the English forces, commanded by the Earl of Surrey, and those of James IV of Scotland. It was a decisive English victory.

The battlefield has not changed much since 1513 and can be found near the village of Branxton in Northumberland. Visitors can see the Flodden Monument, a granite cross located on Piper’s Hill, which was erected in 1910 and which acts as a starting point for the Flodden Battlefield Trail. The trail has interpretation boards along the route, giving more information about the battle and site.

1. WEB: http://www.flodden.net/

2. ADDRESS:
Once in Branxton, the car park for the Flodden Battlefield Trail is clearly signposted.

3. PROJECT ADDRESS:
The Remembering Flodden Project
Branxton Villa,
Branxton,
Northumberland
TD12 4SW

4. TEL:
01890 820501

Lindisfarne Castle

This beautiful 16th century castle is located on Holy Island, which is linked to the mainland near Berwick-upon-Tweed by a causeway that is covered twice a day by the North Sea – so check the tide times before you visit.

The castle was built in 1550 on Beblowe Craig, a volcanic mound, and stands 100 feet above the sea. Further building work was carried out by Elizabeth I in 1570 and 1571. It is said that it was built using stone from Lindisfarne Priory, which had been dissolved in the reign of Henry VIII, but some historians dispute this because the priory did not fall into disrepair until the 17th century. The fortification was built to protect the vulnerable island from the Scots. It was converted into an Edwardian holiday home by Sir Edwin Lutyens, so many of the interior features are Edwardian in style.

Highlights include:

- • The Edwardian style entrance hall, with its classical arches and sandstone pillars

- • The bread ovens in the dining room

- • The mid 18th century vaulted ceilings of the ship room and dining room

- • The long gallery

- • The gun emplacements

- • The Henrietta ship, which hangs from the ceiling of the ship room

- • The magnificent views of the coastline and Cheviot hills.

1. WEB: http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/lindisfarne-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Lindisfarne Castle
Holy Island,
Berwick-upon-Tweed,
Northumberland,
TD15 2SH

3. TEL:
01289 389244

Holy Island causeway safe crossing times can be found at
http://orawww.northumberland.gov.uk/www2/holyisland/holyisland.asp

Norham Castle

This area in the north of England has one of the stormiest histories of the UK. Lands surrounding the River Tweed, which are now officially in the north-east of England, have been disputed for centuries and passed between Scottish and English hands. Norham’s strategic location on the River Tweed necessitated its reputation as one of the kingdom’s best fortified castles. Records show that the castle was subject to siege on at least thirteen separate occasions, including by Robert the Bruce for nearly a whole year. In 1513, James IV and his troops conquered Norham Castle shortly before the Battle of Flodden, when James’s defeat saw him losing the castle once more.

With its origins dating back as far as the 12th century, peace finally broke out at Norham Castle in 1603 when, upon the death of Queen Elizabeth I, James VI of Scotland was crowned James I of England and relations between the two historically opposed nations were forever changed.

Highlights include the mighty keep and the views over the Tweed.

1. WEB: http://www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/norham-castle/

2. ADDRESS:
Norham Castle
Castle Street,
Norham,
Northumberland,
TD15 2JY

3. TEL:
English Heritage on 0370 333 1181

Raby Castle

This medieval castle was built by the Neville family in the 12th century. The Nevilles were a powerful and prominent family in the medieval and Tudor period. Cecily Neville, wife of Richard, Duke of York, and mother of Edward IV and Richard III, was born at the castle in 1415 and was known as “the Rose of Raby”. Neville ownership of the castle ended in 1569 after Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland, was forced to flee into exile abroad after leading the Rising of the North against Elizabeth I.

Raby Castle is set in 200 acres of parkland and although most of what we see today was built in the 14th century, when the Bishop of Durham granted a licence to crenelate in 1378, some parts date back to the 11th century. While the gatehouse is 14th century, the base of Bulmer’s Tower, which is named after Norman Knight Bertram de Bulmer, is 11th century. It is well worth taking a close look at this tower because it is the only five-sided tower in England.

The interior of the castle is a mix of medieval, Regency and Victorian styles. Tudor history lovers should look out for the barons’ hall, where 700 knights once met to plan the Rising of the North. The hall has part of the original Minstrels Gallery and a window dating back to the Neville family’s occupancy. The castle also boasts a medieval kitchen, which dates back to 1360 and has been kept in its original form. The castle’s art collection includes paintings by Sir Joshua Reynolds, Sir Francis Grant, David Teniers the Younger, Veronese, Pieter de Hooch and Sir Anthony van Dyck.

Outside, visitors can enjoy the deer park with red deer and fallow deer, the 18th century ornamental walled gardens and the coach house with its collection of 18th and 19th century coaches and carriages.

1. WEB: http://www.rabycastle.com/

2. ADDRESS:
Raby Castle
Staindrop,
Darlington,
County Durham
DL2 3AH

3. TEL:
01833 660202

SCOTLAND

Palace of Holyroodhouse

Located on one of Scotland’s most famous streets, in the centre of the beautiful historic city of Edinburgh, the Baroque splendour of the Palace of Holyroodhouse stands against a backdrop of one of the city’s most famous landmarks, Arthur’s Seat.

Holyrood’s connection with royalty dates back for centuries and it remains a working palace today, as it is the official Scottish residence of the current monarch HM Queen Elizabeth II. Built in its original form in 1128 as a monastery, the Palace of Holyroodhouse’s most famous permanent resident, and the one of most interest to the Tudor enthusiast, was Mary, Queen of Scots, who lived there from 1561-1567. Mary married Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley, at the palace and it was also the site of the murder of her secretary David Rizzio.

As with all of the accessible buildings that form what is known as the Royal Collection, the treasures available for view at Holyrood are too numerous to list. These include the magnificently furnished royal apartments, boasting astonishing ornate plasterwork ceilings, and the Queen’s Gallery. The Queen’s Gallery has been created with the specific aim of providing a dedicated space in order for some of the more delicate and precious items from the Royal Collection to be displayed in Scotland for the very first time.

Highlights include:

- • Holyrood Abbey tour – in the summer months, visitors can enjoy guided tours of the adjacent abbey

- • Mary, Queen of Scots’ chambers and the Darnley Rooms – these include Mary’s bedchamber and the outer chamber where Rizzio’s murder took place

- • The state apartments with Jacob de Wet’s portraits of real and legendary Scottish monarchs

1. WEB: https://www.royalcollection.org.uk/visit/palace-of-holyroodhouse

2. ADDRESS:
Palace of Holyrood House,
Canongate,
Edinburgh
EH8 8DX

3. TEL:
0131 556 5100

Linlithgow Palace

Standing like some ghostly apparition on the banks of the small inland Loch Linlithgow, the abandoned Linlithgow Palace belies its ruined appearance by offering a wealth of historic treasures to visitors.

Linlithgow, meaning “the loch in the damp hollow”, was built by James I of Scotland in 1424 following the destruction of Linlithgow Castle by a fire. It was built as a quadrangular palace with four ranges grouped around a central courtyard, with a great hall dominating the eastern quarter. James IV added a royal chapel and royal apartments during his reign and James V added a fountain in 1538.

At the height of its popularity, Linlithgow Palace enjoyed a reputation as a pleasure palace and entertained a vast array of visiting dignitaries, due to its strategic location (at the midway point of the journey from Edinburgh to Stirling), and it being an ideal resting point when embarking on this rather arduous journey. As a royal Stuart palace, Linlithgow also acted as royal nursery to a number of significant royal figures: James I, Princess Elizabeth (later known as the ‘Winter Queen’) and, arguably most famous of all, Mary, Queen of Scots. Mary was born at the palace in December 1542. The palace is said to be haunted by Mary’s mother, Mary of Guise.

Following the move of the royal court to London, when James VI of Scotland became James I of England, Linlithgow fell into decline. It became completely abandoned following a fire in 1746 and its magnificent ruins lay open to the elements. The roofless ruined palace is still an imposing building and stands as a symbol of an ancient past. It is certainly worth a visit for those with an interest in Tudor and Stuart history and still features a great many treasures to discover, not least of all its stunning loch side location which is now a tranquil haven for wildlife.

The palace is managed and maintained by Historic Scotland and is open to visitors.

Highlights include:

- • The great hall

- • The restored fountain, which was said to have flowed with wine when Bonnie Prince Charlie visited

- • The chapel

- • The stunning location and views from the high towers over the grounds, the Peel and the loch.

- • The adjacent 15th century St Michael’s Church

1. WEB: http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyabout.htm?PropID=PL_199

2. ADDRESS:
Linlithgow Palace,
Kirkgate,
Linlithgow
Scotland
EH49 7AL

3. TEL:
01506 842896

Lochleven Castle

Built around 1300, Lochleven Castle is a ruined castle set on an island in Loch Leven, Scotland. It saw military action in the Wars of Scottish Independence in the late 13th and early 14th centuries, and in the late 14th century it was granted to William Douglas, 1st Earl of Douglas, whose family owned it until 1675.

It has been visited by various historic personalities including Robert Bruce, but it is more famous for its link to Mary, Queen of Scots. Its late 14th or early 15th century tower served as a prison for Mary for a year. It was there that she miscarried twins fathered by James Hepburn, 4th Earl of Bothwell, and where she was forced to abdicate on 24th July 1567 in favour of her young son, James VI of Scotland. A disguised Mary managed to escape from the castle on 2nd May 1568, and she fled to England, never to see Scotland again.

The castle is maintained by Historic Scotland and can be accessed by ferry and visited between 1st April and 31st October.

Highlights include:

- • The ferry ride following in the footsteps of people like Robert Bruce and Mary, Queen of Scots

- • The 14th century four-storey tower house, which is one of the oldest in Scotland and which served as Mary’s prison

- • The charming 16th century Glassin Tower

1. WEB: http://www.historic-scotland.gov.uk/propertyoverview.htm?PropID=PL_202

2. ADDRESS:
Lochleven Castle,
Perthshire,
Kinross and Angus
KY13 8UF

3. TEL:
01577 862670

Stirling Castle

Stirling Castle was one of the properties assigned to Margaret Tudor on her marriage to James IV, though she resigned it to James V in 1528 in return for recognition of her third marriage, and it was at Stirling in 1515 that she was forced to surrender custody of the young James V to the Regent, Albany. Control of the monarch was considered fairly essential for effective government during a royal minority. Margaret had been in a strong position to head up a regency government but her remarriage in 1514 had effectively put her out of the running. A lot of Scots were not happy that she had remarried at all, still less that she had married a Douglas (the Anglophile earl of Angus).

Margaret is one of the 16th century painted replica heads, which can be found in the King’s Inner Hall.

Stirling Castle is is one of the finest and best-preserved Renaissance buildings in Great Britain. Following a major programme of research and re-presentation, it can now be seen by visitors much as it may have looked on completion around 1545. The decoration of the palace’s six main rooms is overwhelmingly colourful, rich and elaborate, and belongs to the Renaissance. James V and his French wife Mary of Guise aimed to present themselves as wealthy, learned and sophisticated .

Highlights include:

- • The Stirling Heads Gallery

- • The castle exhibition which tells the castle’s story

- • The elegant chapel royal

- • The Queen Anne Garden

- • The great hall and great kitchens

- • The magnificent Unicorn tapestries hanging in the Queen’s Inner Hall

- • The palace vaults – Musician’s Vault, Painter’s Vault, Carver’s Vault, Tailor’s Vault and Jester’s Vault

- • Wall walk

- • Argyll’s Lodging – a 17th century townhouse

1. WEB: http://www.stirlingcastle.gov.uk/home.htm

2. ADDRESS:
Stirling Castle,
Castle Esplanade,
Stirling,
FK8 1EJ

3. TEL:
01786 450 000

Acknowledgements

Compiling the listings for this book has been a mammoth task and one which was made far easier with the help of some of the charities and owners that care for these beautiful historic places. Many were kind enough to send photos and listings to be included in the book. Special thanks go to the Tudor Merchant’s House (Tenby), Stirling Castle, the Lord Leycester Hospital, Dorney Court, Barrington Court, Southsea Castle, Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, Tudor World (Stratford-upon-Avon), Acton Court, Sudeley Castle and Gardens, Tower of London (Historic Royal Palaces), Hatfield House, Royal Armouries (Leeds), Fountains Abbey, Hardwick Hall, Burghley House, Ellys Manor House, Hall Place, Canterbury Cathedral, Arundel Castle, Buckingham Old Gaol Trust, Penshurst Place, Leeds Castle, Barley Hall & Micklegate Bar, Windsor Castle, Haddon Hall, English Heritage for their article on Henry VIII’s artillery forts, Rufford Old Hall, and the National Trust.

I would also like to thank Mike Hodges of Lavenham Photographic Studio, Andrew Crossley and Matthew Crossley, Frank and Davida Brassington, and Geoff Ridgway for their beautiful photographs, Kirstie Atherton for helping with some of the listings, Gillian Johnstone Bowman for her administrative help, Diane Wordsworth for her editing skills, Nada Sertic for her layout expertise, and Tim Ridgway for allowing me to always add “just one more”.

Jeffrey L. Thomas’s website castlewales.com and Nathen Amin’s book Tudor Wales (Amberley Publishing) were a great help when I started researching Welsh properties with Tudor links, as was CADW, the Welsh Government’s historic environment service
http://cadw.gov.wales/

Thank you all. CLAIRE RIDGWAY

Unless mentioned, all photos are licensed under Creative Commons License term.

Acton Court provided by Acton Court

Anne of Cleves House © Geoff Ridgway 2015

Arreton Manor © Jo Turner

Arundel Castle provided by Arundel Castle

Athelhampton House © Mike Searle

Baddesley Clinton © Matthew Crossley 2015, © Emma Wheatley 2015

Barley Hall & Micklegate provided by Barley Hall

Barrington Court provided by Barrington Court

Basing House © Colin Smith

Bayham Old Abbey © Trevor Harris, © Nick Macneill

Beaumaris Castle © Jeff Buck

Beaupre Castle © John Lord

Blickling Hall © Nick Macneill

Bosworth Battlefield provided by Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre

Boughton Monchelsea © Jo Turner

Bradgate House and Park © Tim Ridgway 2012

Bramall Hall © Trevor Harris, © Bob Abell

Breamore House © Mike Searle

Browsholme Hall main image © Peter McDermott, smaller image © Hugh Chevallier

Buckden Towers © Mick Lobb

Buckingham Old Gaol © Mike Smith, Buckingham Old Gaol Trust, Catherine of Aragon Cross

Buckland Abbey © Roger Lombard

Burghley House provided by Burghley House

Burton Agnes Hall © Paul Glazzard

Burton Constable Hall © David Hillas

Calshot Castle main image provided by English Heritage, smaller image © Mat Tuck

Camber Castle main image © Helmut Zozmann, smaller image provided by English Heritage

Canons Ashby © Michael Garlick

Canterbury Cathedral © Julian P Guffogg

Cardiff Castle © Gareth James

Carew Castle © Philip Halling, © Hefin Richards

Carisbrooke Castle © Martin Dawes

Carlisle Park/William Turner Gardens © Paul Buckingham

Carmarthen Castle © Chris Andrews

Charlecote Park © David Dixon, © David P Howard

Chirk Castle © Jeff Buck

Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick © Tim Ridgway 2012

Conwy Castle © Jeff Buck

Coombe Abbey © Tim Ridgway 2012

Corsham Court © Hugh McKechnie

Cotehele © Neil Kennedy

Coughton Court © Andrew Crossley

Cowdray Park © Geoff Ridgway 2015

Dalemain main image © Michael Steele, © Stephen Richards

Deal Castle provided by English Heritage

Denbigh Castle © Jeff Buck

Dorney Court provided by Dorney Court, smaller image © Kevin White

Dover Castle © Ron Strutt, © Richard Croft, © Graham Horn

Dunster Castle © Mike Crowe, © Roger Cornfoot

Elizabethan House and Museum, Great Yarmouth © Jo Turner

Ellys Manor House provided by Ellys Manor House

Eltham Palace © C P SmithFirle Place © Michael Garlick

Flodden, Flodden Monument © Barbara Carr

Fountains Abbey © David P Howard

Framlingham Castle © Adrian Cable

Furness Abbey © Stephen Middlemiss

Gainsborough Old Hall © Steven Ruffles, © Richard Croft, © Rod Allday

Gawsworth Hall © Peter Turner

Gawthorpe Hall main image © Phil Platt, smaller image © Adie Jackson

Golden Hind, Brixham © Roger Cornfoot

Golden Hinde, London © Robert Lamb

Greenwich, Naval College © Paul Gillett, © Chris Gunns, © Steve Daniels

Greys Court © Bill Nicholls

Haddon Hall provided by Haddon Hall

Hall Place provided by Hall Place

Hampton Court Palace © Tim Ridgway 2012

Hardwick Hall © Alan Heardman, © David Lally, portrait of Elizabeth I © Richard Croft

Hatfield House provided by Hatfield House

Henry VIII Artillery Forts provided by English Heritage

Hever Castle © Tim Ridgway 2012

Hoghton Tower main image © Rude Health, smaller image © John Darch

Hurst Castle main image © Steve Daniels, smaller image provided by English Heritage and New Forest Online

Ightham Mote © Richard Croft, © Philip Halling, © Graham Taylor

Jervaulx Abbey main image © Dave Pickersgill, smaller image © Mike and Kirsty Grundy

Kelmscott Manor main image © Bill Nicholls, smaller image © Philip Halling

Kenilworth Castle © Tim Ridgway 2012

Kentwell Hall © Paul Farmer

King John’s House © Peter Trimming

Kinnersley Castle main image © Philip Pankhurst, smaller image © Philip Halling

Knole © John Salmon

Lambeth Palace © Tim Ridgway 2013

Laugharne Castle © Mick Lobb

Lavenham © Mike Hodges, Lavenham Photographic Studio.

Layer Marney Tower © John Myers

Leeds Castle main images provided by Leeds Castle, view over water © Christine Matthews

Leicester Abbey Park © David Hallam-Jones

Levens Hall © Ian Greig

Lilleshall Abbey © Christopher Hilton

Lincoln Castle © Jo Turner

Lincoln Guildhall main image © Roger Cornfoot, smaller image © Richard Croft

Lindisfarne Castle © Wfmiller

Linlithgow Palace © Robert Murray

Little Moreton Hall © Frank Brassington 2015

Littlecote House © David Dixon

Lochleven Castle © J Thomas

Longleat House © Andy Potter

Lord Leycester’s Hospital provided by Gerald Lesinski

Loseley Park © Paul Gillett

Ludlow Castle © Philip Pankhurst

Mapledurham main image © Bill Nicholls, smaller image © Pam Brophy

Mary Rose Museum © Colin Babb

Melford Hall © Tony Bennett, © Jonathan Simkins

Middleham Castle © John Darch

Mill Bay First two images © Dara Jasumani, third image © Tony Atkin

Monk Bar © David Dixon

Montacute House © Mike Searle

Muncaster Castle main image © Christine Matthews, smaller image © Alexander P Kapp

Naworth Castle © Andrew Tryon

Neath Abbey © Mick Lobb

Norham Castle © James T M Towill

Nunnington Hall © John Lord

Ordsall Hall main image © Steven Haslington, smaller image © David Dixon

Oxburgh Hall © Michael Garlick

Oxford Martyrs’ Memorial © Robin Sones, Christ Church College © Robin Sones

Oxwich Castle © Philip Pankhurst

Palace of Holyroodhouse © John Myers

Palace of Westminster and Westminster Hall Westminster Hall © Christine Matthews, Palace of Westminster © Tim Ridgway 2013

Paycocke’s House © Nick Macneill

Pembroke Castle © Gordon Hatton

Pendennis Castle provided by English Heritage

Penshurst Place provided by Penshurst Place

Peterborough Cathedral © Julian Dowse

Plas Mawr © Jo Turner

Pontefract Castle © Derek Dye

Portland Castle provided by English Heritage

Raby Castle © Clive Nicholson, © David Dixon

Raglan Castle © Rob Farrow

Rievaulx Abbey main image © Bill Henderson, smaller image © Peter Church

Rose Theatre © Christopher Hilton

Royal Armouries, Leeds provided by Royal Armouries

Rufford Old Hall © David G Roberts

Sand, Sidbury main image © Roger Cornfoot, smaller image © Liz Moon

Sandgate Castle first image provided by English Heritage, other images © Oast House Archive and © Helmut Zozmann

Sandown Castle main image © Chris Whippet, first image provided by English Heritage, second © Nick Smith

Sandsfoot Castle © Bob Ford

Scarborough Castle © Reiner Tegtmeyer, © Robin Drayton, © Phillip Andrew Carl Taylor

Selly Manor © Phil Champion, © Martin Richard Phelan

Shakespeare’s Globe main image © Len Williams, smaller image © Sue Sandy

Sheffield Manor Lodge © Tim Ridgway 2012

Shurland Hall © John Vigar

Sissinghurst Castle © Graham Horn

Sizergh Castle main image © Keith Evans, smaller image © David Dixon

Skipton Castle © Skipton Castle, Yorkshire

Southsea Castle © Paul Gillett

Speke Hall main image © Jeff Buck, smaller image © Neil Kennedy

St James’s Palace © Paul Gillett

St Mawes Castle provided by English Heritage

St Nicholas Church, Kenilworth main image © David Dixon, smaller image © James Dunlop

Stirling Castle © M J Richardson

Stratford-upon-Avon © Andrew Crossley

Sudeley Castle provided by Jade Mansell, Sudeley Castle

Sutton House © Colin D Brooking

Syon Park © Mat Fascione

The Vyne © Colin Smith

Thornbury Castle © Philip Halling

Tilbury Fort © David Anstiss

Tower of London © Tim Ridgway 2012

Trerice main image © Len Williams, other images © Rod Allday, © Humphrey Bolton

Tudor Merchant’s House, Tenby main image © Ian S, smaller image provided by Tudor Merchant’s House, Tenby

Tudor World provided by Tudor World

Tutbury Castle © Richard Croft, bottom left © Mike Searle

Ty Mawr © Keith Evans, © Jeff Buck

Upnor Castle © Paul Gillett

Walmer Castle provided by English Heritage

Waltham Abbey Gatehouse © John M

Warwick Castle © Andrew Crossley 2015

Weald and Downland Museum © Peter Trimming

Weobley main image © Philip Pankhurst, smaller image © Colin Smith

Westminster Abbey © Tim Ridgway 2013

Whitby Abbey © Rob Farrow

Whitehall Museum © Roger Miller, © Stefan Czapski

Whittington Court © James Stringer 2007, used with thanks

Wilton House © Mike Searle

Windsor Castle © Peter Trimming

Wroxall Abbey © Andrew Crossley

York Minster © Val Vannet, © Richard Croft, © Philip Halling

A HUGE THANK YOU TO ALL WHO HELPED IN THIS PROJECT

On This Day in Tudor History gives a day-by-day look at events from the Tudor era, from 1st January to 31st December, including births, deaths, baptisms, marriages, battles, arrests, executions and more.

This must-have book for Tudor history lovers is perfect for:

- • Dipping into daily over your morning coffee

- • Using in the classroom

- • Trivia nights and quizzes

- • Finding out what happened on your birthday or special day

- • Wowing friends and family with your Tudor history knowledge

- • Researching the Tudor period

Written by best-selling Tudor history author Claire Ridgway, On This Day in Tudor History contains a wealth of information about your favourite Tudor monarchs, their subjects and the times they lived in.

Did you know: on 17th January 1569 Agnes Bowker gave birth to a cat?

An ‘on this day in history’ book presented in an easy-to-use diary format.

ISBN: 978-84-943721-9-3

Everyone at The Tudor Society hopes that you have enjoyed this book. We hope it has ignited (or re-ignited) your passion for this amazing period of Great Britain’s history.

Since you want to discover more about the Tudors, there is no better society to join than the Tudor Society. As a member you’ll have access to all of our extensive archives plus:

- • glorious online monthly magazines with exclusive articles

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As a member you will also be part of the fastest growing Tudor community and have access to hundreds of hours of exclusive private videos about your favourite subject!

With monthly, six-monthly and yearly membership plans there’s no better place to discover the Tudors than the Tudor Society.

www.TudorSociety.com

MadeGlobal Publishing

Non-fiction History

- • Tudor Places of Great Britain - Claire Ridgway

- • Jasper Tudor - Debra Bayani

- • Illustrated Kings and Queens of England - Claire Ridgway

- • A History of the English Monarchy - Gareth Russell

- • The Fall of Anne Boleyn - Claire Ridgway

- • George Boleyn: Tudor Poet, Courtier & Diplomat
- Ridgway & Cherry

- • The Anne Boleyn Collection - Claire Ridgway

- • The Anne Boleyn Collection II - Claire Ridgway

- • Two Gentleman Poets at the Court of Henry VIII
- Edmond Bapst

- • A Mountain Road - Douglas Weddell Thompson

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- • Sweating Sickness in a Nutshell - Claire Ridgway

- • Mary Boleyn in a Nutshell - Sarah Bryson

- • Thomas Cranmer in a Nutshell - Beth von Staats

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- • Catherine Carey in a Nutshell - Adrienne Dillard

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- • Between Two Kings: A Novel of Anne Boleyn - Olivia Longueville

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- • All about Richard III - Amy Licence

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