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Buckden Towers

Buckden Towers
Attraction: Historic Buildings & Gardens
Activities: Walking
Admission Charge: Not Known
Age Range: Ages 11 to 18 years, Ages 5 to 11 years, Under 5's
Area: Buckden
Town: Huntingdon
County: Cambridgeshire
Telephone: 01480-810344
Opening Days: Specific Days
Description
Buckden Towers (formerly Buckden Palace) was a resting place and/or home to successive Bishops of Lincoln from the 12th century to 1842.  The location was important as many were involved in affairs of state as Chancellor or Keeper of the Great Seal.

Little now remains of the Bishops' moated Palace except the Great Tower, Inner Gatehouse, part of the battlemented wall, which used to surround the Inner Court within the moat, and the Outer Gate and wall. These were started by Bishop Rotherham in the time of Richard III and completed by Bishop Russell, whose Arms appear on the Inner Gatehouse, in 1480.

Nothing survives of Bishop Grossteste's Great Hall except the footings marked in the grass to the north of the modern church.  During its long history, Buckden Palace has been host to a number of royal visitors including:

  • Henry III - 1248
  • Edward I - 1291
  • Richard III - 1483
  • Margaret Beaufort (mother of Henry VII) - 1501
  • Queen Katherine of Aragon - 1533/34
  • Henry VIII & Katherine Howard - 1541
  • James I - 1619
  • Prince Regent - 1814
Buckden Towers is now a Christian Retreat and Conference Centre run by the Calretian Missionaires together with the Catholic Parish Church of St. Hugh of Lincoln which stands on the site of the Great Chamber of the medieval palace.

Visitors to Buckden Towers are always welcome to walk through the grounds and during office hours of 9.00am -5.00pm Mondays to Fridays can obtain a key for access into the Knot Garden. Information booklets can also be obtained upon application at the Main House during the same hours.

Access to the buildings is only possible on occasional Open Days, but the Friends of Buckden Towers offer accompanied tours for groups whenever they are able to do so. If anyone is interested in these,they should apply by ringing the Office on 01480-810344, whereupon we will pass contact details onto the Friends. A donation of £2 per group member is usually requested.

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