Cotswolds - Sudeley Castle

We’re in the beautiful Cotswolds region now with its many picturesque market towns.  

We drove along the narrowest of roads and negotiated a ford on our way to Winchcombe to start our circular walk to Belas Knapp Neolithic site. The walk headed out on the Cotswold Way and returned on the Winchester Way. 

At the end of the walk we took the cut across fields to get to Sudeley Castle and gardens. 

Sudeley’s history goes back to King Ethelred the Unready in the 11th century when it was a manor house - a castle construction began in the mid 15th century.  In 1469 Sudeley fell to the crown and King Edward IV bestowed it to his brother Richard, Duke of Gloucester (yes, him again – he had this castle and then inherited the one in Barnard too!)

Richard is credited with building the great banqueting hall which the photo shows it now a ruin.  The ‘great hall’ was built in the fashion of the time with a ground floor for feasting and meeting guests and the upper floor for the King and his special guests.  The oriel windows which are decorated with the White Rose of York can still be seen. 

After the death of Richard at the Battle of Bosworth, Sudeley as property of the Crown passed to King Henry VII who in turn gifted it to his uncle, Jasper Tudor.

After King Henry VIII’s death, his son King Edward VI granted Sudeley Castle to his uncle, Thomas Seymour.  Thomas went on to marry Catherine Parr who had been the sixth and last wife of Henry VIII. They moved to Sudeley along with their ward Lady Jane Grey (who became Queen for nine days in July 1553).  Catherine died in 1548 following the birth of her daughter and is buried at Sudeley – this is the only private castle to have a queen buried in its grounds.

Queen Elizabeth I stayed at Sudeley three times during her reign the most famous of which was 1592 when the extravagant festivities almost bankrupted the Brydges family who were the hosts.

After being neglected and left to ruin for over 200 years the Dent brothers, who were wealthy glove makers, bought Sudeley in 1837 and set about its restoration.  The work was continued by their nephew John Dent and his wife Emma Brocklehurst when they inherited the castle in 1855.

The castle is surrounded by gardens which complement its history – a Tudor physic garden, herb garden, a knot garden, the Queen’s rose garden and the Secret garden.

Another great walk and visit on a beautiful sunny day!