- Type
- Castle
- Origins
- 1119 · 12th century per Wikidata: founding, first mention or construction
- Location
- England, United Kingdom
- Style
- Norman architecture
- Visiting
- probably – Wikidata lists it as a museum or gives tickets, opening hours or visitor numbers; check before you go
- Coordinates
- 51.2489°, 0.6300°
History
The Norman baron Robert de Crèvecœur began building a stone stronghold on islands in the River Len in 1119. In 1278 King Edward I bought the castle for his wife Eleanor of Castile, and it went on to belong to several queens of England as part of their dower. Henry VIII turned it into a splendid residence, where Catherine of Aragon often stayed. In 1822–1823 the New Castle was built on the larger island in Tudor Revival style. In 1926 the estate was bought by Olive, Lady Baillie, who furnished the interiors lavishly, and after her death in 1974 it passed to a foundation.
What to see
The approach is a walk through extensive parkland with lakes and black swans. In the New Castle you can see the interiors from Lady Baillie's time, and a bridge leads to the smaller island and the oldest part of the building, known as the Gloriette. The grounds also hold a yew maze with an underground grotto at its centre, gardens, an aviary and a museum of dog collars.
Wikipedia article Official website Wikidata Q746876
Popularity: articles about this site in 33 Wikimedia projects (Wikipedia language editions and others).