• Home
  • About
    • Work with Me
  • Destinations
    • England
    • France
    • Italy
    • Scotland
    • United States
    • Wales
  • Mental Health
  • Lifestyle
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Bloglovin
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
Life Well Wandered

Life Well Wandered

14 July 2020 · Leave a Comment

Visiting Sudeley Castle: A Castle Hidden in the Heart of the Cotswolds

Destinations· England

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email

Your guide to visiting Sudeley Castle in the Cotswolds, including its history, things to do and see, and practical visiting information.

When I was researching things to do and see during my trip to the Cotswolds, I knew I needed a contingency plan in case the weather was less than optimal for outdoor exploration. I came across Sudeley Castle, located near the village of Winchcombe, and immediately knew I had to add it to my list.

Luckily for me, the weather was pretty windy and rainy the morning we set off on the second day of our Cotswolds weekend, so Sudeley Castle made the perfect stop to wait out the dreary weather. Little did I know that I would spend more than two hours exploring this fascinating castle.

sudeley castle knot garden

Sudeley Castle History

Sudeley Castle is one of the few remaining private castle residences in England and is the only private castle to have a queen buried within its grounds. With over 1,000 years of history, it has something to interest every visitor.

Early History

Nearby Winchcombe served as the Anglo-Saxon chief city of Mercia under King Offa. Before the turn of the 11th century, King Ethelred the Unready gave the estate at Sudeleagh (as it was called) to his daughter Goda, who resided in what was then a manor house. The manor house was passed to her son Ralf, and again passed to Ralf’s son, Harold, Earl of Hereford.

However, after the Norman conquest of 1066, Harold was stripped of his title but allowed to remain at Sudeley. Harold’s son, John de Sudeley, revolted against King Stephen and as a result, King Stephen seized the castle and made it into a royal garrison.

portmare tower sudeley castle from 1877
Portmare Tower in a photograph by Marianne Brocklehurst from 1877.

The site of the castle remained abandoned until 1442 when Ralph Boteler, who was named Baron Sudeley by King Henry VI, built Sudeley Castle on its present site. Most notably, he constructed St. Mary’s Church and Portmare Tower (pictured above), supposedly named after a French admiral prisoner whose ransom paid for its construction. In 1469, during the War of the Roses, Boteler was forced to sell Sudeley to King Edward IV. Edward granted the castle to his brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester (who would become King Richard III). Richard added onto the property and you can view the ruins of his banqueting hall while visiting Sudeley Castle today.

ruins of richard III's banqueting hall from 1893
The ruins of Richard III’s banqueting hall in a photograph from 1893

After the death of Richard III at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485, the new king, Henry VII, granted Sudeley to his uncle, Jasper Tudor, Duke of Bedford, who held it until his death in 1495, when it reverted to the crown.

See also  Must-Have Travel Apps

Royal connections at Sudeley Castle

Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn visited the castle in 1535. After the death of King Henry VIII in 1547, King Edward VI granted Sudeley Castle to his uncle, Sir Thomas Seymour. It was during this time that Katherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII, married Thomas Seymour and moved to the castle, accompanied by Lady Jane Grey. Seymour refurbished the castle as Katherine Parr was expecting her first child. Unfortunately, Katherine Parr died on 5 September 1548. She was buried in St. Mary’s Church and her grave remained forgotten until it was rediscovered in 1782 in the ruins of the chapel. Seymour was arrested in 1549 and beheaded and in 1554,

a portrait of catherine parr from 1877 from a miniature by holbein
A portrait of Katherine Parr from 1877 made from a miniature by Holbein.

Subsequently, Queen Mary I granted the castle to Sir John Brydges, 1st Baron Chandos. Sudeley remained in the hands of his family for the next 100 years. Queen Elizabeth I visited Sudeley Castle three times during this period, the most famous visit being a three-day celebration to celebrate the anniversary of the defeat of the Spanish Armada.

Things remained calm until the English Civil War when 6th Baron Chandos declared his loyalty to the king. Parliamentary troops bombarded the castle, destroyed the roof, and left the castle to ruin.

The revival of Sudeley Castle

From 1655 until 1837, Sudeley Castle remained in ruins. Two wealthy glovemakers from Worcester, John and William Dent, purchased Sudeley Castle in 1837. The brothers spent a lot of money rebuilding and restoring parts of the castle and acquiring many of the Tudor treasures that remain on view in the castle today.

sudeley castle engraving from 1866
An engraving of Sudeley Castle from 1866.

In 1856, the castle passed to their nephew John Dent and his wife Emma Brocklehurst. Emma worked to restore Sudeley after her husband passed away in 1885. When Emma died in 1900, the castle passed to her nephew Harry Dent-Brocklehurst, whose family has held Sudeley Castle ever since.

Between the wars, crippling debt forced the family to sell off much of the land in order to make necessary restorations. During World War II, the grounds of Sudeley Castle became a POW camp for Italians and Germans and the castle itself was used to store works of art from the Tate in London. In the early 1980s, the family completed two years of work to turn Sudeley Castle into a tourist attraction. It has remained simultaneously open to the public and a private residence.

gardens in sudeley castle

What to see at Sudeley Castle

When I decided to visit Sudeley Castle during my weekend in the Cotswolds, I thought I might spend an hour max there. Turns out, you can easily spend more than two hours exploring the castle and its grounds and still want to stay longer! There is so much to see.

The Castle Gardens

On a warm, sunny day, you could spend hours exploring the gardens of Sudeley Castle. The grounds are home to 10 gardens which are beautifully preserved to their 15th-century state when the castle was rebuilt by Ralph Boteler.

queens garden sudeley castle with a view of the banqueting hall
The Queens’ Garden at Sudeley Castle (taken in winter, so unfortunately no roses).

Of particular note are:

  • The Queens’ Garden, which is named after Anne Boleyn, Katherine Parr, Lady Jane Grey, and Elizabeth I. It houses more than 80 varieties of roses.
  • The Knot Garden, which is made into an intricate geometric design based on a pattern from a dress worn by Elizabeth I.
  • The East Garden, which is a small garden with trellises that you’ll likely walk through on your way to the pheasantry.
See also  Oxford

To learn more about the gardens at Sudeley Castle, visit their website.

Richard III’s Great Hall

ruins of richard III's banqueting hall at sudeley castle taken in 2020
Richard III’s banqueting hall as seen today

When Richard III took over Sudeley Castle, he built a magnificent banqueting hall as an addition to Sudeley Castle. Unfortunately, it remains in ruins but you can sense how magnificent it must have been when looking at it.

The Pheasantry

Perhaps most surprisingly, I discovered that Sudeley Castle is home to a pheasantry that Lord Ashcombe established in the 1980s. In fact, it has one of the world’s largest public collections of rare and endangered species of pheasants from around the world.

peacock in the pheasantry of sudeley castle

With many pheasant species close to extinction globally, Sudeley Castle’s pheasantry works closely with the World Pheasant Association and participates in a program of breeding and conservation of some of the rarest species. Today, you’ll see 16 species of pheasants in their habitats as well as a couple of peacocks who roam freely around the area.

St. Mary’s Church

  • st mary's church exterior sudeley castle
  • interior aisle of st marys church at sudeley castle
  • catherine parr's tomb in sudeley castle's st. mary's church

The original St. Mary’s Church was destroyed during the English Civil War and was rebuilt from 1855-1863. Inside, you’ll find the marble tomb of Katherine Parr, the last of King Henry VIII’s eight wives. The side chapel is the original chapel that was used for fortnightly services after the ruin of the church during the English Civil War.

The Private Rooms

Sudeley Castle is one of the few castles left that is still a residence. Downstairs, you’ll find the morning room with a beautiful Turner painting hanging on the wall. In addition, you’ll enter the library, which houses more than 1,000 delicate books and a rare 16th-century Sheldon tapestry depicting the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. The library also has several other beautiful works of art, including a portrait of Rubens by Anthony Van Dyck.

exterior of the residence wing at sudeley castle

Upstairs, you’ll walk through a couple of bedrooms: the Chandos bedroom, whose bed is said to have been slept in by King Charles I; and the Major’s dressing room, the room Major Jack Dent-Brocklehurst used between the two world wars to dress for dinner and sleep while his wife slept in the Chandos bedroom next door.

The beautifully decorated Katherine Parr’s anterooms are the final two rooms of the second floor, both used by Katherine Parr as anterooms to the state apartments. They are two of the oldest rooms in the castle.

The Exhibitions

  • statue of a roman god found on the grounds of sudeley castle
    A relief depicting a local Roman hunter god. The figure is holding a bow in his left hand. A similar depiction can be found on the altar at Goldsmith’s Hall in London.
  • supposed christening dress of queen elizabeth I
    A white satin embroidered robe, believed to have been worn by Elizabeth I at her christening.

Upon entering the castle, you’ll find yourself taking a deep dive into the castle’s 1,000+ years of history and its various inhabitants and important visitors. What I loved about this exhibition was that it included artifacts and fun facts to appeal to everyone – letters, official documents, clothing, furniture, books, lace, weapons, etc., all housed in the original 15th century west wing of the castle. The castle exhibit also does a great job of providing easy-to-digest information for children. On your way out of this part of the castle, you’ll even walk down a staircase supposedly haunted by a Victorian housekeeper.

See also  Last Day in Rome

Tithe Barn & Reflection Pool

Ralph Boteler built the tithe barn in the 15th century. Unfortunately, it was badly damaged during the English Civil War. The reflection pool was added in the 1930s.

Victorian Dog Kennels

During the Victorian period, these kennels at the bottoms of the castle steps held hunting dogs

Where is Sudeley Castle?

Sudeley Castle is located near the village of Winchcombe in Gloucestershire and about 8 miles northeast of Cheltenham. Sudeley Castle is most easily accessible by car and has free parking on site. The closest train station is Cheltenham Spa. Its postal code is GL54 5JD.

Practical information for visiting Sudeley Castle

For travel during pandemic times, please verify all information on Sudeley Castle’s website.

Sudeley Castle is open from roughly mid-February until the Christmas holidays each year. Its season begins in early February and ends in December just before Christmas each year. Normally, Sudeley Castle is open Monday-Sunday from 10 am-4 pm. The last admission is one hour before closing. Check their website for official visiting information.

garden arch on the grounds of sudeley castle

Purchasing tickets: Tickets can be purchased online, but you must do so at least a day (24 hours) in advance. You will save 10% on admission when purchasing tickets online for visits between 30 March and 1 November. You will 20% on admission when purchasing tickets online for visits between 10 February-29 March and 2 November-20 December.

Tickets purchased at Sudeley Castle upon arrival are £17.25 for adults, £7.95 for children, and free for infants and caretakers of disabled visitors.

Dining at Sudeley Castle: Sudeley Castle has a restaurant that serves light lunches, sandwiches, scones, cakes, and hot meals. You can also have afternoon tea when visiting Sudeley Castle, but it is subject to availability and must be booked at least 48 hours in advance.

Have you visited Sudeley Castle?

You may also like

Visiting Sudeley Castle: A Castle Hidden in the Heart of the Cotswolds

Share this post:

Share on Twitter Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on LinkedIn Share on Email
Previous Post: « A Guide to Glasgow Cathedral
Next Post: The Roman Forum: 19 Must-See Monuments »

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Welcome to Life Well Wandered

alex life well wandered

Welcome to my corner of the internet! Life Well Wandered is a travel blog where you'll find a little bit of everything. I love sharing itineraries from past trips, secret spots I've discovered on my travels, histories of places I find fascinating, and stories about my mental health.

  • Bloglovin
  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
Life Well Wandered

Search

What’s New

  • A Guide to Stow-on-the-Wold in the Cotswolds
  • The Real-Life Inspiration for Moria? Exploring St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold
  • A Lord of the Rings Guide to the Cotswolds: Places That Inspired Tolkien’s World
  • Day Trips from London: Stonehenge & Salisbury
  • Visiting Upper Slaughter in the Cotswolds: A Guide
Follow
college tourist

Note: We are a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Please check our disclosure page for more information.

lifewellwandered

Alex | Travel Blogger/Wanderer
One of my favorite things about traveling in Franc One of my favorite things about traveling in France is the constant reminder to slow down. ✨ On a spontaneous stop in Tours after a busy morning of castle-visiting, we visited the cathedral (more on that soon) and wandered over to Place Plumereau. My former self would have wanted to maximize sightseeing, making a quick stop and moving on. 💥 However, the groups of people enjoying the beautiful weather with wine and cheese made it impossible to refuse a snack and break myself. 🍷🧀 Sitting on a terrace surrounded by others just ~being~ was a great reminder to slow down and soak up the moment 😌 #lifewellwandered #mindfultravel
What's one thing you always notice when you visit What's one thing you always notice when you visit a historical building? 🤓 I always notice floors and staircases, constantly imagining who used them and the history they've witnessed. ✨ The staircases in the châteaux in the Loire Valley did not disappoint 😍 #lifewellwandered
Château de Châteaudun has one of the largest and Château de Châteaudun has one of the largest and best preserved keeps in France, dating from the 12th century 🤓 at 102 ft (31m) tall, it dominates your view when you visit. SWIPE to see more shots from the château, including centuries-old graffiti from the castle's prisons 😯 #lifewellwandered
This view was not something I expected when I visi This view was not something I expected when I visited Chartres 😍 I would love to sit in that sun room with a good book 🤓 Wishing everyone a lovely weekend (hopefully with pleasant weather) ☀️ #lifewellwandered
Do you prefer French or English gardens? 🌸 Some Do you prefer French or English gardens? 🌸 Something about the symmetry of French gardens (pictured here) is very pleasing to me, but I really dislike the rules that come along — no walking on grass, no random meandering from one spot to another, limited to the confines of your current trajectory. 🤷🏼‍♀️ I enjoy the freedom and wildness (is that a real word?) of English gardens much more! #lifewellwandered
Which half-timbered building would you live in? 🤔 Whenever I'm in Europe, I always find myself drawn to these quirky, wonky buildings, each with a unique history. 🤓 Drop me in any one and I would be content 😍 #lifewellwandered
Weekend plans: hiding from the heatwave in DC whil Weekend plans: hiding from the heatwave in DC while wishing I was in France 😫 🏰 #lifewellwandered
Take me back to beautiful French châteaux 😍 Ch Take me back to beautiful French châteaux 😍 Château d'Azay-le-Rideau is one of the most picturesque castles I have ever visited—it was built in the early 16th century and seemingly rises straight from the river Indre 🏰
Me every 5 seconds walking around a medieval town Me every 5 seconds walking around a medieval town 📷
Load More... Follow on Instagram
  • Home
  • About
  • Destinations
  • Mental Health
  • Lifestyle

Copyright © 2023 · beloved theme by Restored 316