Sudeley was once a royal residence, closely associated with some of the most famous English monarchs, including Edward IV, Richard III, Henry VIII, Lady Jane Grey, Katherine Parr, Elizabeth I and Charles I.
The Castle was even home to a secret Queen of England, Eleanor Boteler, whose royal status was unknown for centuries.
Today you can explore the original 15th century west wing of the Castle and its fascinating exhibition rooms, before entering the east wing which is home to a number of beautiful rooms, still used by the family today.
A sweeping staircase in Sudeley's South Hall is illuminated by fine panels of painted Dutch glass from the 16th and 17th century. A striking, large painting can be found at the top of the stair case. 'The Allegory of the Tudor Succession' is one of Sudeley's greatest treasures and is one of the most famous portraits of the royal family from the Tudor dynasty. Commissioned in 1572, the artwork celebrates the harmony established by Queen Elizabeth and depicts her father, Henry VIII, in the centre flanked by Mary I (Elizabeth’s half-sister), Philip II of Spain and Elizabeth herself.
The work is heavy with symbolism and was purchased by former Sudeley Castle owner, John Coucher Dent, at the sale of the collection of Horace Walpole at Strawberry Hill in 1842. The work has been credited to the Flemish artist Lucas de Heere who was arguably one of the greatest portrait painters of the time.
The Morning Room
This sunny room was a favourite of Mary Dent-Brocklehurst, the present owner’s mother-in-law. On the wall hangs A View of Stourhead by Turner (1775-1851), and other pieces of art, including a bronze sculpture of Brock, the family’s pet badger in the late 60s and early 70s.
The Library
The library houses more than 1,000 delicate books, some over 400 years old. On the wall is one of Sudeley’s greatest treasures, a rare, 17th century Sheldon tapestry, reputed to have been woven in the 1650s and depicting the expulsion of Adam and Eve from Paradise. Many rare books are on display here, along with various treasures and collectibles gathered by the family over many years.
The Chandos Bedroom
This is the principle bedroom in the castle, named after the family who owned Sudeley during the Civil War.
Visitors can admire the enormous four-poster bed in the centre of the room, which is said to have been slept in by Charles I. The grand bed was discovered in a local farmhouse and restored by the Dents. Parts of it are thought to be Tudor and other sections date from Stuart times.
The Major’s Dressing Room
Between the two World Wars, Major Jack Dent-Brocklehurst would dress for dinner every evening in black tie or tails, with the help of his valet. As was custom of the times, the Major also used his dressing room as a bedroom, whilst his wife, Mary, slept undisturbed in the much grander Chandos bedroom next door.
Katherine Parr’s Anterooms
Known as ’cabinets’, these are two of the oldest rooms in the castle and would have served as anterooms to the state apartments which lay beyond. Discover this richly decorated space complete with a beautiful, Tudor style blue ceiling.
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There is always something going on at Sudeley…