Kimbolton Castle

Coordinates: 52°17′47″N 0°23′18″W / 52.2964°N 0.3884°W / 52.2964; -0.3884
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Kimbolton Castle
Kimbolton School
The castle in 2011
Additional information
Type
OS grid reference
TL100677
Built1525
Built forRichard Wingfield, Charles Montagu, 1st Duke of Manchester
Rebuiltc.1690-1720
Current useSchool
ArchitectHenry Bell, John Vanbrugh, Nicholas Hawksmoor, Robert Adam
Architectural style(s)Tudor fragments, Baroque
OwnerKimbolton School
Websitekimbolton.cambs.sch.uk/castle
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameKimbolton School
Designated24 October 1951
Reference no.1221022
Listed Building – Grade I
Official nameGatehouse to Kimbolton School
Designated24 October 1951
Reference no.1221020
Kimbolton Castle is located in Cambridgeshire
Kimbolton Castle
Location of Kimbolton Castle in Cambridgeshire

Kimbolton Castle is a country house in

King Henry VIII's first wife, Catherine of Aragon. Originally a medieval castle but converted into a stately palace, it was the family seat of the Earls and Dukes of Manchester from 1615 until 1950. It now houses Kimbolton School
.

History

Kimbolton Castle in 1880. This illustration shows the present mansion as rebuilt between 1690 and 1720
Kimbolton School, Gatehouse

The castle was built by Geoffrey Fitz Peter, 1st Earl of Essex, in the late 12th century.[1] The inner court was rebuilt by Anne, Duchess of Buckingham, in the late 15th century.[1]

The castle was acquired by Sir Richard Wingfield in 1522.[1] Catherine of Aragon was sent here in April 1534 for refusing to give up her status or deny the validity of her marriage.[1] The fenland climate damaged her health, and she died in the castle on 7 January 1536.[2]

The castle was bought by

Sir John Vanbrugh.[1] The 4th Duke of Manchester commissioned Robert Adam to design the gatehouse which was constructed in 1766.[1]

Many members of the Montagu family (Earls and Dukes of Manchester) are buried at St Andrew's Church in Kimbolton. Several Montagu monuments still exist in the South Chapel, while the Montagu vault (extended in 1853) is located beneath the North Chapel.[3]

The 10th Duke of Manchester sold the contents in 1949, and the castle and 50 acres were sold to Kimbolton School in 1951.[4]

Warren House

On the grounds of the castle is Warren House, where the warrener (estate's rabbit gamekeeper) used to live, converted into a late 18th-century

Grade II* listed and owned by the Landmark Trust. The Trust renovated the house, under a design from architect Oliver Caroe, between 2011 and 2012.[5][6]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "'Parishes: Kimbolton', in A History of the County of Huntingdon: Volume 3, ed. William Page, Granville Proby and S Inskip Ladds". London: British History Online. 1936. pp. 75–86. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  2. ISBN 978-1-85828-799-7
    .
  3. ^ "Guided Tour". St Andrew’s Church, Kimbolton. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  4. ^ Scriven, Marcus (2009). Splendor and Squalor: The Disgrace and Disintegration of Three Aristocratic Dynasties. p. 163.
  5. ^ Landmark News, Spring 2011, The Landmark Trust, p.6.
  6. ^ Landmark Trust: Warren House

External links

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