Most accommodations say that they’ve a way of historical past, however few fairly match the backstory of Thornbury Castle in Gloucestershire, situated round 15 miles from Bristol.
IT not solely hosted one of the crucial contentious monarchs in English historical past, Henry VIII, but in addition his daughter Mary I, in addition to two of his wives – Catherine of Aragon and Anne Boleyn.
The citadel was constructed as a standing image by Edward Stafford, third Duke of Buckingham and one of many main nobles of the time. Henry VIII grabbed IT when Stafford was discovered responsible of treason in 1521, and IT could be visited by the royal family over the following three a long time.
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Ultimately, the citadel was returned to the Stafford household in 1554, though by that point the Staffords had misplaced most of their fortune and IT slowly drifted into disrepair.
Happily, an advantageous marriage restored their fortunes, enabling IT to be renovated. IT was transformed right into a restaurant within the Sixties, earlier than being become a lodge, now owned by the Emirati Khamas Group, which purchased IT in 2019. IT can also be a part of the celebrated Relais & Châteaux group of luxurious accommodations.
The colorful Catherine of Aragon suite at Thornbury Citadel
(Picture credit score: Thornbury Citadel)
Restoring the previous
The brand new house owners have carried out in depth work to improve the lodge’s services to the extent that you’d anticipate of a five-star boutique, and so they have restored a few of the interval options that had beforehand been hidden by time. The end result ensures that Thornbury’s sense of historical past is current in each inch of the property.
This ranges from the charming gardens, which comprise a wire sculpture of Henry VIII admiring the big variety of vegetation and flowers, to the opulent suites, that are named after the numerous distinguished Tudor figures who’ve change into entwined with Thornbury’s historical past, such because the Catherine of Aragon suite, which is reached through a 77-step stone spiral staircase.
Naturally, probably the most palatial of those rooms is known as after Henry VIII, and IT is the very same room during which the king stayed with Anne Boleyn whereas on his royal tour.
I stayed within the Catherine Howard suite, named after Henry VIII’s fifth spouse. Whereas Howard didn’t keep in Thornbury herself, the Howard household have a powerful reference to the place as they performed an enormous position in rescuing Thornbury. So naturally, the room is impressively opulent.
For instance, the four-poster mattress had the Howard household crest carved into IT, and there was a complimentary bottle of artisan sloe gin on the aspect desk. Every thing within the room, from the carpets to the regal fire and the frilly mouldings on the ceilings, jogged my memory that I used to be in a spot that had as soon as hosted royalty.
The gardens are a pleasing spot for a drink exterior
(Picture credit score: Thornbury Citadel)
Meals match for a king (or a queen)
Thornbury’s bedrooms are match for a king (or queen) and the meals is of a equally excessive customary. The kitchen prides itself on sourcing a lot of the elements IT makes use of from native farms, or rising them within the lodge’s personal kitchen backyard. Its efforts have received IT accolades, together with three prestigious rosettes from the AA.
Sitting beneath portraits of distinguished members of the family and coats of arms, I loved a three-course dinner in Thornbury’s stately eating rooms. The roasted halibut fillet with salt cod mash, barbecued gem lettuce, clams and mussels was notably worthy of notice.
Strolling across the entensive grounds is an effective way to stroll IT all off. As for the gardens, which function a miniature maze, they’re finest loved on a sunny afternoon, with a cool drink.
For these after a little bit extra motion, Thornbury’s pleasant employees can organise a number of actions, starting from a guided tour of the citadel to longbow archery, falconry and even axe throwing for the total Tudor expertise. However, in the event you would fairly merely unwind, Thornbury might help you loosen up with aromatherapy, massages and reflexology periods supplied in its remedy rooms.
To get probably the most out of a keep at Thornbury Citadel, you’ll wish to keep a number of nights. However even when you end up merely passing by, you’ll at the least wish to cease in to pattern the lodge’s afternoon tea and Champagne. That approach, you may absorb the environment for an hour or two – a worthwhile expertise judging by the tables filled with joyful households having fun with the tea and muffins within the lounge.
Matthew was a visitor at Thornbury Castle. Charges are from £299 an evening.
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