- Type
- Castle
- Built
- 1707 · 18th century
- Site origins
- 12th century per Wikidata – an earlier stronghold or first mention
- Location
- England, United Kingdom
- Visiting
- probably – Wikidata lists it as a museum or gives tickets, opening hours or visitor numbers; check before you go
- Coordinates
- 52.2956°, -0.3872°
History
On the site of a medieval castle a Tudor manor house was built, to which Catherine of Aragon was sent in 1534 after Henry VIII cast her aside; she died here in January 1536. In 1615 the estate was bought by the Montagu family, later Earls and Dukes of Manchester. When the south front collapsed in 1707, Charles Montagu, soon to be the 1st Duke of Manchester, entrusted the rebuilding to John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor. The Venetian painter Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini decorated the interiors with murals, and Robert Adam later designed the gatehouse. Since 1950 the castle has housed Kimbolton School.
What to see
Outside, the building poses as a fortress with battlements, but inside it holds elegant Baroque rooms. The highlights are Pellegrini's murals on the main staircase and in the chapel, including the triumph of Julius Caesar. The school opens the castle to visitors on occasion, and Robert Adam's gatehouse can be seen from the village.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q501080
Popularity: articles about this site in 18 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).