Kimbolton Castle

Kimbolton Castle stands in Kimbolton, Cambridgeshire, on ground once bordered by fenland. The building began as a medieval castle in the late 12th century. By the late 15th century the inner court had been rebuilt. In the early 17th century it was transformed into a Tudor manor house, parts of which remain. From 1615 the Montagu family owned the castle and carried out major works. Sir John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor designed the south wing between 1690 and 1720. The castle is famous for its links to Catherine of Aragon. She was sent there in 1534 after refusing to give up her royal status. A member of her household drowned in the moat while trying to draw attention to her imprisonment. Her health declined in the damp climate and she died in the castle in January 1536. Later owners included the Earls and Dukes of Manchester, who are buried in the nearby church. The gatehouse was designed by Robert Adam in 1766. Today the castle houses Kimbolton School. Warren House, a small folly on the grounds, was once the warrener’s home. It was rebuilt in the early 18th century with a single decorative façade facing the castle. The house is now Grade II* listed and owned by the Landmark Trust. Visitors can walk the grounds and see the Tudor remnants and Vanbrugh’s south wing. The church nearby holds several Montagu monuments and the family vault.