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Sudeley Castle's origins are Saxon - Elthelred The Unready ( I always felt sorry for him getting this sobriquet in history) gave it to his daughter as a wedding present in the 10th century. This Saxon house disappeared, to be replaces by a fortified castle in 1441, built by a Ralph Boteler. As in the way of things it changed hands a number of times as the aristocratic owners fell from or achieved, Royal favour. Eventually Edward VI gave it to his uncle Thomas Seymour. And this is how the widow of Henry VIII, Queen Katherine Parr came to be living here - after Henry VIII's death, she married Seymour, who was her fourth husband. She died here in childbirth, and is buried in the Church in the Castle grounds.
Like so many castles in England Sudeley saw service in the Civil War. As it had been a Royalist stronghold, Cromwell had it destroyed at the end of the war. You can still see some of these ruins today. In remained as ruins for some time
In 1837 the castle was bought by William and John dent who began to rebuild
the castle. Their nephew John continued their work, and with his wife Emma are
the people mainly responsible for what you see today
However soon the castle entered another period of neglect, and was heading for
dereliction again by the early 1980's. New owners then started extensive renovations
and opened the building to the public to pay for its maintenance. Hence a well
restored building and gardens are available to you to visit today
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