St Kenelm's Well

Looking across the lawn which centuries ago would have been the floor of the great hall that once stood here. The romantic ruins of the northeastern corner of this former building still stand giving an idea of its original height.

Originally a private chapel built by Ralph Boteler in the mid C15th, this little church in the grounds of Sudeley Castle fell into ruin after the depredations of the English Civil War and the damage inflicted upon it by Cromwell's troops. In the C18th a tomb was discovered bearing an inscription revealing that it belonged to Katherine Parr - the last of Henry VIII's six wives. The church was restored by the Dent family in the mid C19th, and Katherine's body now lies within a fine monument within this church. (see SP0327 : Sudeley - Tomb of Katherine Parr (1512-1548))

Katherine (or Catherine, Kathryn, Kathryne etc.) Parr was born in 1512 most likely in Blackfriars, London rather than at her family's ancestral home in Westmorland. In 1543 she became the sixth and final wife of the by-then decrepit and obese Henry VIII. This was her third marriage, her two former husbands Sir Edward Burgh and John Neville, Lord Latimer both having died. Katherine was apparently a very effective Queen Consort, proficiently acting as Regent in Henry's absence. When Henry died in 1547 she had hoped and expected to be named as Regent and advisor to the young Edward VI, however the quixotic Henry had made other arrangements and Katherine was sidelined. Katherine moved to Sudeley and married the man she had long desired, Thomas Seymour. Her new husband was ambitious and rash, and no doubt considered his marriage to Katherine as a fine political move. Sadly, Katherine died within a year, soon after giving birth to a daughter - this daughter has mysteriously vanished from History and no-one knows her fate, though it is believed that she survived infancy at least. Thomas Seymour, with a female heir and a dead wife, left Sudeley, never to return, not even for his wife's funeral. Katherine was interred in the private chapel - or small church - on the estate. During the Civil War in the mid C17th the church was damaged by Cromwell's troops and eventually became ruinous. Katherine's tomb was effectively lost and forgotten. It was not until the mid C18th that two ladies visiting the romantic ruins of the castle, looked in on the remains of the church and noticed a carved stone. They requested that this be investigated and soon a tomb was rediscovered with a plaque on it stating it belonged to the Queen of England, Katherine Parr. On opening the lead sarcophagus, Katherine was found to be almost perfectly preserved. However once air got into the coffin, decay commenced and by the time of her reburial in the mid C19th, her body had become little more than dust and bones. She was re-interred in the fine tomb which can be found in the church today, with an effigy by J.B. Philip resting on a marble chest tomb. To see the church SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - St Mary's church

A view of the Knot Garden within a quadrangular internal courtyard of Sudeley Castle. This view is looking eastwards. See also the view from under the arbor (seen ahead) looking westwards SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Knot Garden - looking westwards

The complementary view to SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Knot Garden - looking east looking westwards across the Knot Garden at Sudeley from beneath the arbor on the eastern side of the quadrangle.

A view over the immaculately tended gardens at Sudeley Castle.

The sculpturally trimmed yew trees cast strong shadows onto the neatly mown grass of a walk between the numerous yew trees at the southern end of the gardens at Sudeley Castle. See also SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Topiary and shared description below:

The yew trees on the southern fringe of the gardens at Sudeley Castle have been trimmed into neat geometric shapes which were casting strong shadows on this bright early Autumn day. See also SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Yew Tree Walk and the shared description below:

I think that these woolly creatures are alpacas rather than llamas as they are too small for the latter I think. They were grazing in a field immediately to the south of the gardens at Sudeley Castle - still within its grounds however.

Looking along the length of the ornamental pool to the north of Sudeley Castle to the tower end of St Mary's church in the castle grounds. The pool was well stocked with large fish.

The large, but ruined Tithe Barn at Sudeley Castle which lies to the northwest of the castle is contemporary with the oldest parts of the castle having been built for Ralph Boteler in the mid C15th. It is EH Grade I listed Link see also SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Tithe Barn - Interior (NE end), SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Reflected Tithe Barn and SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Lily pond reflecting the Tithe Barn

Inside the enormous ruined Tithe Barn at Sudeley Castle, looking from roughly its mid point to the northeastern end of this fine old building. The old stones are proving to be an excellent trellis for climbing plants. see also SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Tithe Barn, SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Reflected Tithe Barn and SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Lily pond reflecting the Tithe Barn

The first of two photos of the northwestern end of the Tithe Barn at Sudeley reflected in the lily pond which is to its east. In this landscape view more of the side of the old barn can be seen than in the portrait view here SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Lily pond reflecting the Tithe Barn See also SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Tithe Barn and SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Tithe Barn - Interior (NE end)

A similar view to SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Reflected Tithe Barn but in portrait format and from a slightly different perspective. The mellow old Cotswold stone of the Tithe Barn is partly covered in plants growing in and around the barn, and its northwestern gable end is reflected in the lily pond in the foreground. see also SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Tithe Barn and SP0327 : Sudeley Castle - Tithe Barn - Interior (NE end)

A collection of farm buildings which don't appear to be greatly used.

The footpath leaves the farm track which provides vehicle access to Waterhatch.

This is the valley bottom of Beesmoor Brook, which is a significant tributary of the River Isbourne.

The Windrush Way is roughly following the line of Beesmoor Brook, though you don't get to see the brook.