Sudeley’s history spans over 1000 years and we’re delighted to be unlocking the past with three days of talks, drop-in interactive sessions, bespoke tours and special events from knowledgeable experts designated to enliven and enrich the many and varied stories threaded into the castle and gardens.
With a mix of free events running throughout normal visitor opening hours as well as special evening events when you can experience Sudeley in a different light, History Weekend will feature popular periods such as the Tudors, English Civil War, Georgians and Victorians - with plenty of surprising details!
Find out more about what’s on below.
Please note more events coming soon!
Meet the archivist FREE
Derek Maddock, Sudeley Castle’s very own archivist, will be offering visitors a chance to investigate original historical documents showcasing Sudeley's past.
When & where:
Friday 26th & Saturday 27th June, 11:30, 12:30, 13:30, 14:30 & 15:30, The Badger Room (accessed via the exhibitions area ground floor)
Lady Jane Grey at Sudeley FREE
Find out what brought Lady Jane Grey to Sudeley as a young girl, her links with Katherine Parr, and how her story unfolded until the tragic end of her life.
When & where:
Friday 26th June, 11:00, The Chapel
Saturday 27th June, 12:00, Castle Coach House
Katherine Parr - Survived! FREE
Follow the incredible journey of Henry VIII’s last wife through the intrigues of the Tudor court and on to her final resting place at Sudeley Castle.
When & where:
Friday 26th June, 13:00, The Chapel
Saturday 27th June, 15:00, The Chapel
Alison Weir: The Boleyn Secret £25pp
Author and historian Alison Weir returns to Sudeley Castle to give a talk on her most recent publication The Boleyn Secret. Tickets are £25 per person and include an arrival drink hosted by Lady Ashcombe, chatelaine of Sudeley.
When & where:
Friday 26th June, 18:00, The Orangery
The Victorians of Sudeley FREE
Find out more about the Victorians of Sudeley, their links with the town of Winchcombe and how their legacy still lives on through the present family owners of the castle.
When & where:
Saturday 27th June, 11:00, The Chapel
Romanticism / Georgian Sudeley FREE
As the Romantic movement took hold in the Georgian era, the ruins of Sudeley became a tourist attraction, with George III paying a visit which nearly had a drastic impact on the monarchy.
When & where:
Saturday 27th June, 13:00, The Chapel
Victorian celebrity FREE
Frivolous, destructive or dangerous? Jane Harrison of the Royal Grammar School, Worcester, will use Emma Dent’s collection to introduce Victorian celebrity culture and challenge contemporary stereotypes about its fans.
When & where:
Saturday 27th June, 14:00, Castle Coach House
Evensong service FREE
The Parish of Winchcombe invites you to attend Evensong in Sudeley’s Chapel, St Mary’s Church. With worship led by Fliss Hall and music from Tapestry Chamber Choir this promises to be a moving end to History Weekend.
When & where:
Sunday 28th June, 16:00, The Chapel