Sudeley Castle, Medieval castle in Tewkesbury, England
Sudeley Castle is a medieval fortress near Winchcombe in Gloucestershire, England, built and altered by noble families over several centuries. The property comprises a main residential building, a chapel, stables, and ten separate garden sections that spread across roughly six hectares within a larger estate.
Ralph Boteler, Lord High Treasurer of England, started building the current fortified residence in 1443 on the site of an earlier 12th-century manor house. After his death, ownership passed through several hands, including King Henry VIII, who gave it to his final wife Katherine Parr.
The name Sudeley comes from the Old English word for a southern hill summit, describing the way the grounds rise gently within the Cotswold landscape. Visitors today see the stone walls and garden layouts in the form that 19th-century owners restored after the English Civil War left much of the property in ruins.
The grounds open every morning and close in the late afternoon, allowing visitors to walk through both outdoor sections and exhibition rooms inside. Those touring the garden areas should wear sturdy shoes, as some paths cross gravel and uneven terrain.
Within the grounds stands St. Mary's Chapel, where Katherine Parr, the last wife of Henry VIII, was buried in 1548. Her tomb remains the only one in England where a queen lies in a private residence, as all other monarchs rest in royal or ecclesiastical sites.
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