Built / Designed For: Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham.

House & Family History: Thornbury was built for Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham and Henry VIII's king's lieutenant and constable of England. Stafford received a royal license to build a fortified manor in 1510. Work began the following year but stopped in 1521 when the duke was executed on trumped-up grounds of treason. Henry and Anne Boleyn stayed in the Castle for 10 days in 1535 and Mary I (as Princess Mary) spent years here. After Henry VIII had Stafford executed, he seized the Castle, which remained in royal ownership for the next 33 years.

John Bernard (J.B.) Burke, published under the title of A Visitation of the Seats and Arms of the Noblemen and Gentlemen of Great Britain and Ireland, among other titles: 2.S. Vol. I, p. 144, 1854.

Country Life: XXII, 702, 1907.

House Listed: Grade I

Park Listed: Grade II

Past Seat / Home of: Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, 16th century. Howard family, 19th century.

Current Ownership Type: Corporation

Primary Current Ownership Use: Hotel

Ownership Details: Today Thornbury Castle Hotel & Restaurant

House Open to Public: By Appointment

Phone: 01454-281-182

Fax: 01454-416-188

Email: [email protected]

Website: https://www.thornburycastle.co.uk/

Historic Houses Member: No