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On the Tudor Trail

lindaglamour
Oct 17, 2016
3 min read

It has been a true highlight to wander across England as I have and to be able to be so close to where so much Tudor history has occurred. When in France I "walked in the footsteps of Anne Boleyn" visiting Amboise Chateau and so in the UK, I have similarly walked in her footsteps here.

Both Hampton Court Palace and Hever Castle are essential to the story of Anne Boleyn's rise to being the most well known of Henry VIII's queens. I have also visited Hardwicke Hall and Burghley House which have played significant roles in Tudor history. One thing I always do each time I visit London is to visit the National Portrait Gallery and say hello to Anne and the other Tudors.

Thornbury Castle in Gloucestershire is the only place in the UK that one can visit and stay where both Henry and Anne stayed in the very rooms they used. They stayed for 10 days in 1535. Built in 1511 to resemble a medieval fortress by the Duke of Buckingham it was intended to be bigger than Hampton Court Palace and has one complete great tower and an inner court with elaborate oriel windows overlooking the privy garden. Looking around one can see the remains of tudor walls now derelict with fireplace and windows in place. It looks like it is a ruin but in fact the building was never completed. Thornbury Castle was too grand for a subject according to Henry so the Duke lost his head!

I had decided to avoid a long drive to Winchester on Saturday morning and looked for somewhere to stay on the Friday night. Delving into my In The Footsteps of Anne Boleyn book, I discovered Thornbury. I was also fortunate to see some posts on Facebook from one of the Anne Boleyn sites of Thornbury and I was hooked. How could I be so close and not stay where Anne had been? It was beyond my wildest dreams that upon arriving I was shown to the Anne Boleyn room!

My room was suitable for a Princess, or should I say a Queen? It was located at the base of the small winding stone staircase which leads up to the room where Henry slept. Its beautiful oriel windows lets in a huge amount of light - a real Tudor luxury. I reach out and touch the stone doorframe, the wall lining the staircase and the veil between now and then shimmers...

My room with original stone fireplace and windows looking out to the church and privy garden took my breath away.

The public rooms of Thornbury Castle have a tale to tell. The main reception room and library was the room Anne and her maids used to pass their time. Sitting there with a glass of champagne, my book on Anne in hand, I could hardly believe I was in a room which she too would have done what I was doing....I can't resist reaching out and touching the ancient stone window ledge, the wood panelling, gazing into the old fireplace and think...I am truly walking in Anne's footsteps.

It is in the small details however that one can find the past come to life.

At the entrance to the castle there is a small stone set of steps. It is now overgrown with moss and little flowers but what is it?

This set of steps was used to enable carriage passengers to alight at their destination and this particular set was used by Anne. It sits to the side of the entrance, apparently unloved but not unnoticed.

There is so much to Thornbury Castle that one night does not satisfy. The privy garden and grounds need more exploration, a visit to Henry's room, another chance to sit in the lounge and soak up the atmosphere and imagine another time, another set of steps other than mine walking the hallways.