House & Family History: Buckden Towers (formerly Buckden Palace) was a resting place and home to successive bishops of Lincoln from the 12th century to 1842. Little remains of the bishops' moated palace except the Great Tower, the Inner Gatehouse, and part of the battlemented wall, which used to surround the Inner Court within the moat, and the Outer Gate and wall. These works were started by Bishop Rotherham during the reign of Richard III and completed by Bishop Russell, circa 1480. Of Bishop Grossteste's Great Hall, nothing survives except the footings marked in the grass to the north of the modern church. The medieval Great Chamber, chapel, library, and domestic quarters, which would have housed Katherine of Aragon when she was banished here in 1553-54, were demolished in 1838. Buckden Palace hosted a large number of royal visitors, including: Henry III in 1248, Edward I in 1291, Richard III in 1483, Margaret Beaufort (mother of Henry VII) in 1501, Henry VIII and Queen Katherine Howard in 1541, James I in 1619, and the Prince Regent in 1814. Certainly the most important royal resident of Buckden Palace was Katherine of Aragon. Archbishop Cranmer sent her to the palace by order of Henry VIII after the annulment of their marriage; she resided here from 1533 until 1534. Buckden Towers is now a Christian retreat and conference center run by the Claretian Missionaries, together with the Catholic Parish Church of St. Hugh of Lincoln, which stands on the site of the Great Chamber of the medieval palace.

Country Life: XXVI, 162, 1909.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Not Listed

Past Seat / Home of: Bishop Robert Grossteste, 13th century. Bishop Thomas Rotherham, 15th century. Bishop Russell, 15th century. Queen Katherine of Aragon, 16th century.

Current Ownership Type: Other

Primary Current Ownership Use: Conference Center

Ownership Details: Today a Christian retreat and conference center operated by the Claretian Missionaries

House Open to Public: By Appointment

Phone: 01480-810-344

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.buckden-towers.org.uk/

Historic Houses Member: No