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Name:Thornbury Castle Church Road Thornbury
SGHER Number:1570
Type of record:Monument
Grid Reference:ST 6332 9065
Map Sheet:ST69SW
Parish:Thornbury, S Gloucestershire

Monument Types

  • CASTLE (Medieval - 1066 AD to 1539 AD)

Protected Status

  • Conservation Area Thornbury (12): Thornbury Castle Church Road Thornbury

Full description

Thornbury Castle is a building of the highest architectural importance. It is one of the last great baronial castles to be built in the old castellated style, (although the lord's residential south front is devoid of defensive architecture), and one of the last castles to provide quarters for a private army. The existing castle represents all that was completed of a reconstruction of the older buildings, it was commenced in 1511 by the third Duke of Buckingham and was still unfinished at his execution in 1521. The older buildings lying east of the Court Quadrant (SGSMR 13574) included the Great Hall which had a central hearth, suggesting it was of a date not later than the 14thCentury. {1} The Tudor mansion has been completed internally in modern times, and the north, west and south ranges are occupied. {2}In 1510 a licence was granted to impark 1000 acres and to build the castle -LPDF 1,1517. In 1517 a licence was granted to impark a further 500 acres - LPDF 11,3022. The manor house which was converted into the castle and had a chapel, hermitage and dove cote. {3}The remains of a tile pavement were found in Thornbury Castle during the felling of a tree. A subsequent small excavation was undertaken on the east identified as the Old Hall or the Duke of Bedford's Lodgings. The tiles probably date to about 1521.{4}{5} There was of ancient time a manor place by the north side of the Parish Church. {7} The base court discussed in {8} Description in {10}

Sources and further reading

<1>Bibliographic reference: Simpson W D. 1946. Bastard Feudalism and the Later Castles.
<2>Bibliographic reference: Country Life. 1907. Thornbury Castle. Country Life 22 702-12
<3>Bibliographic reference: Hawkyard A D K. 1977. Thornbury Castle. TBGAS 95 51-58 plans
<4>Bibliographic reference: Iles R. 1983. Avon Review 1982 Bristol Avon Archaeol-2 55. Bristol Avon Archaeol-2 55-56 plan
<5>Bibliographic reference: Iles R Edgar J. 1982. Tile pavement excavated at Thornbury Castle Avon Review 1982 Bristol Avon Archaeol-2 55. Photo
<6>Bibliographic reference: Verey D. 1970. Gloucestershire: the Vale and Forest of Dean. Buildings of England
<7>Bibliographic reference: Smith L T. 1964. Leyland's Itinerary 1535-43.
<8>Unpublished document: Thurley S. 1987. Thornbury Castle Base Court Reconstructed.
<9>Bibliographic reference: Kingsley N. 1989. The Counrtry Houses of Gloucestershire Vol 1 1500-1660. 186-9
<10>Bibliographic reference: Salter M. 2002. The Castles of Gloucestershire and Bristol. 36-38

Related records

16960Related to: Ha Ha Thornbury Castle Church Road Thornbury (Monument)
13574Related to: Manor House Thornbury Castle Church Road Thornbury (Monument)
6176Related to: Rabbit Warren Holm Park Thornbury (Monument)
16584Related to: Real Tennis Court Thornbury Castle Church Road Thornbury (Monument)
4214Related to: Registered Garden Thornbury Castle Church Road Thornbury (Monument)
13570Related to: Thornbury Castle Outer Court and wall of Kitchen Garden Church Road Thornbury (Monument)