KIMBOLTEN CASTLE and BUCKDEN TOWER, CAMBRIDGESHIRE

(Some text and all photographs by Cherry Rosewall - thank you Cherry!) 

A fantastic time was had by all at Tuesday's trip to Buckden Palace and Kimbolton Castle. 

Photo with all permissions.

 

Before we start, here's a very small quiz for you! 

In Kimbolton, there were some Toby jugs. Henry the VIII, and his six wives. The one on the right (below) is Katherine of Aragon. Who's the next one on the left....clue, the handle is an axe.

Answer: Anne Boleyn

 

We had a guided tour of Kimbolton Castle in the morning and Buckden Tower in the afternoon. Both were the last homes of Katherine of Aragon where she was kept a virtual prisoner by Henry VIII. She died at Kimbolton, which is now a school, and was taken from there to burial in Peterborough Cathedral. We learned a lot and had a lovely day including a delightful lunch at Kimbolton Castle and homemade cake and tea at buckden Tower which is now home to Claretian Missionaries. 

Above left Kimbolton Castle. Above right, Buckden Tower. Katherine was kept in this tower for two years until 1534.

Kimbolton Chapel. Katherine worshipped here.

A talk in the Great Hall at Kimbolton

Above is the Headmaster's Study, which we were told was the room where Katherine died. The Castle has been rebuilt since then, and is mainly by Vanborough in the early 18th century.