Broughton Castle
I think it would take a lifetime to see all the great manor houses and castles that dot the countryside of the U.K. This week I discovered a jewel of a grand house, Broughton Castle, a moated and fortified manor house a few miles from Banbury in North Oxfordshire.
"Our house was almost seven hundred years old, a medieval beginning transformed in the sixteenth century into a Tudor stately home, a castle surrounded by a broad moat, with woods, farmland and a landscaped park on the far side, and a gatehouse tower guarding the two-arched stone bridge, the islands only point of access and departure."
From The Music Room written by William Fiennes (who grew up in Broughton Castle)
The core of the house was built in 1306 and the gatehouse in the early fifteenth century, but most of what you see today dates from the 1550's. The main part of the house was a center of opposition to Charles I during the English Civil War. It was besieged and damaged after the Battle of Edgehill in 1642.
Broughton Castle is home to the 21st Lord and Lady Saye & Sele, whose family name is Fiennes. The ownership of the Castle has remained in the same family since 1447.
Sir Thomas inherited Broughton Castle from his great uncle William of Wykeham, the founder of New College in Oxford and Winchester College in Winchester. William Wykeham bought Broughton Castle in 1377. Sir Thomas inherited it in 1447. Their descendants still live in the Castle nearly 700 years later!
This is a genealogy of the decedents of William of Wykeham and the owners of Broughton Castle since the 14th Century. It hangs in the great hall. The family name of the owners changed to Fiennes (through marriage) in 1447. The British actors Ralph and Joseph Fiennes are distant cousins to the current owners. (It was used in the film Shakespeare in Love in 1998 staring Joseph Fiennes as young Shakespeare!)
If Broughton castle looks familiar, that is because it has been used in dozens of movies and TV shows. Above is a list of the movies and TV productions filmed here since 1960. The one that I recognized the castle from was Wolf Hall, filmed in 2014.
One of the many things that impressed me with this home are the views from the every window. Every room that I toured, the windows all have beautiful views in every direction. Since the castle is still the private residence of the current Lord and Lady Saye & Sele, only part of the house is available to tour. It is also only open to the public on Wednesday and Sunday 2-5pm.
Through the centuries, various kings and queens of England have been guests at the castle. The wall paper in this room and the next is 18th century hand painted wall paper from China. It is stunning.
These documents are the original title to the ownership of the castle. They date back to 1377.
I love this collection of baby shoes from the various generations and centuries of castle owners.
Stunning views from every window.
The castle is surrounded by a man made mote. It helped protect the castle from siege in 1642 during the English Civil War.
While the gardens are not as large as most castles, they are simply stunning. Two hundred years ago 14 gardeners where employed to maintain the one and a half acre garden. Today only one gardener manages the garden and does so brilliantly. It's is a beautiful English garden.
Behind the gatehouse is the church where the owners of the castle are buried. Here lies William and Mary Wykeham, the first Lord and Lady of Saye & Sele.
This is the tomb of Sir John de Broughton, the builder of the church (1315). It was restore to it's original medieval colors in the 19th century.
On the top floor of the castle you'll find a room where there are canon balls that were fired upon the castle in the 1600's. It was also in this room where Sir William and other Parliamentarians made plans to oppose the autocratic rule of King Charles I. After the English Civil War, William Fiennes (1582-1662) arranged for a group noblemen to travel to the New World, America, where they founded Saybrook (Connecticut).
There is so much history in the walls and grounds of this spectacular house. The castle has been lovingly maintained and restored through the centuries. It is no wonder it is sought after as a movie set. It looks like a fairytale castle and is well worth a visit.
For more information:
P.S. I've just finished the book The Music Room, written by William Fiennes. It's a wonderful description of his childhood growing up in Broughton Castle, and coming to understand his older brother who had severe epilepsy. It's beautifully written and a joy to read.
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