Thornbury Castle

 

Front elevation of Thornbury Castle

Tonight, I am reporting on Thornbury Castle which is located in Gloucestershire, England. This is close to Bristol and 122 miles west of London.

The building dates from around 1511 when it was built as a residence for Edward Stafford the 3rd Duke of Buckingham (1478-1521). It is not a castle in the military sense but an example of a Tudor era country house at a time when the countryside was increasingly peaceful.

Unfortunately for him, the 3rd Duke was beheaded for treason by Henry VIII in 1521. Following the execution Henry VIII confiscated the property and actually spent ten days there in 1535 with Queen Anne Boleyn. Later, in 1554, Queen Mary granted the property to Henry Stafford, 1st Baron Stafford. Following the Civil War in the 17th century the building fell into disrepair but was renovated in 1824 by the Howard family.

The main ranges of Thornbury comprise framed courts, of which the symmetrical entrance range, with central gatehouse and octagonal corner towers, survives, together with two less regular side ranges with many irregular projecting features and towers.

The building is now a Grade 1 listed building (highest heritage building ranking) and operated as a 26 room hotel and restaurant within the Relais & Châteaux group.

Within the castle grounds is a vineyard which produces a white wine that is served in the dining rooms.Grapes are harvested during September or October with all-comers welcomed to participate in the grape picking.

Vineyardp to navigationJump to search
.

 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Reconstructed Roman Villa

Image
This evening, I am reporting on my visit earlier today to a meticulously reconstructed Roman Villa in Somerset, England.   Funding for the project was provided by a South African billionaire. Specific features of the reconstruction project which is known as 'Villa Ventorum': Employed hundreds of architects, builders, archaelogists, mosaic makers, fresco painters and experts on ancient plumbing. The new build was built close to the remains of the original villa which dates from AD351. Incorporates the only working hypocaust system in Europe to create authentic Roman underfloor heating. Thne system also provides heating for the internal baths. Designed to appear to visitors as though still in use. Mosaics and frescoes have been made below the top standards of the time (e.g. Chedworth ) to reflect the social rank of the resident family. Incorporates a Roman 'fast food bar' allong the lines of that found in Pompeii . (Core of above information sourced from the Times newspap
Read more

Glen Quaich, one of Scotland's best backroads tour routes

Image
This afternoon, I am reporting the route of Glen Quaich in Central Scotland. This is a scenic, single track road which is usually closed to traffic in winter. The route covers about twelve miles and runs between the villages of Amulree and Kenmore on the northern tip of Loch Tay in Perthshire. Depending on time of year it is possible to encounter low lying snow, many sheep, grouse and other exceptional opportunities for photography. Incidentally, Quaich means a drinking cup. In a certain place the landscape is shaped like a bowl. Glen Quaich, Perthshire, Scotland Glen Quaich Black Grouse at Glen Quaich Here are a couple of video clips.
Read more

Fort Augustus, a popular visitor site on southern tip of Loch Ness

Image
Loch Ness from flight of locks at Fort Augustus, Scottish Highlands This evening, I am posting information on Fort Augustus, a busy tourist village on the southern tip of Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. Summary information on Fort Augustus as follows:- Population about 650 persons. Distance, about 160 miles from Edinburgh and 35 miles from Inverness entailing journey times of 3.5 hours and 1 hour respectively. Well endowed with hotels and other accommodation plus shops, restaurants and visitor attractions. From here visitors can avail of boat trips on Loch Ness. Home to an impressive flight of five locks on the Caledonian Canal. Latter dates from 1822 and is now primarily used by pleasure boats. Closely linked with the 18th century Jacobite uprising in that (a) the village was renamed Fort Augustus (after Prince William Augustus, third son of King George II) consequent upon construction of a British military (redcoat) fort in 1742 and (b) the same Prince
Read more