Thornbury Castle

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The west front of Thornbury Castle. The castle was begun in 1511 as a home for Edward Stafford, third Duke of Buckingham.

Thornbury Castle is a castle in Thornbury, South Gloucestershire, England. It was begun in 1511 as a home for Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham. It is not a true castle (designed to serve as a fortress), but rather an early example of a Tudor country house, with minimal defensive attributes. It is now a grade I listed building.

The site was occupied by a manor house in 930 AD. Only a part of the original plans for a very grand residence were carried out before the duke was beheaded on the orders of his distant cousin Henry VIII for alleged treason in 1521. Following the Duke's demise the Castle was confiscated by King Henry VIII of England, who stayed at the Castle for ten days in 1535 with his queen, Anne Boleyn. Following the English Civil War the castle fell into disrepair but was renovated in 1824 by the Howard Family. It is situated behind St Mary's Church, a church dating back to the Norman period.

The castle is now a 26 room luxury hotel and restaurant, and a venue for weddings.