ENGLAND TRIP: Day 6: Part 8: Thornbury Castle Ruins

Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham

Thornbury Castle is a castle in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, England. It was begun in 1511 as a home for Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham. He was a descendant of the Plantagenet family, the family that lost the War of the Roses to the Tudor family. The Tudor family, which includes Henry VIII, then ruled England. 
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This gives an idea of how much larger the castle would've been

WHO WAS THE DUKE OF BUCKINGHAM? 

Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham, KG (3 February 1478 – 17 May 1521) was an English nobleman.  Buckingham, with his Plantagenet blood and numerous connections by descent or marriage with the rest of the aristocracy, became an object of Henry's suspicion. 

WHAT HAPPENED TO HIM THAT MADE THE CASTLE CONSTRUCTION STOP? 

This would have been a fireplace

Two floors that would've been built

During 1520, Buckingham became suspected of potentially treasonous actions and Henry VIII authoriaed an investigation. The King personally examined witnesses against him, gathering enough evidence for a trial. The Duke was brought to Court in April 1521 and arrested and placed in the Tower of London. He was tried before 17 peers, and was accused of listening to prophecies of the King's death and intending to kill the King; however, the King's mind appeared to be decided and conviction was certain. He was executed on Tower Hill (outside the Tower of London) on 17 May. He was posthumously acquitted by Act of Parliament on 31 July 1523.

TOURING THE "RUINS" - The ruins aren't ruins, really. They are parts of the castle that were never finished when Edward Stafford was called to Henry VIII's court and taken away - never to return. When we got to the castle we wanted to investigate, so we walked around the castle and through the "ruins." It was strange seeing walls standing with windows, or cut out areas that would've been fireplaces. As large as the castle is today anyway, it would have been much larger. 

VIDEO #1: WALKING THROUGH THE RUINS


Scroll down for a second brief walk through the ruins video.

VIDEO #2: WALKING THROUGH THE RUINS

  Waiting for a window

 

Window where archers would sit (notice the opening)