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AMPTHILL CASTLE

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Ampthill Castle, of which there are no standing remains, was built in the 1420s by Sir John Cornwall, spouse of Elizabeth, sister of Henry IV. The castle came into the hands of Henry VIII in 1524 and Katherine of Aragon lived there during the divorce proceedings of 1533. By Elizabeth I's accession the buildings had already fallen into decay and at the time of the 1567 survey its partial demolition was planned. In 1605, the idea of rebuilding was revived and plans were made to convert the buildings to a hunting lodge for James I, however nothing came of them. In a Parliamentary report of 1649 it was recorded that the buildings were by then totally demolished. In 1771-2 the second Earl of Upper Ossory employed Lancelot Brown to landscape Ampthill Park.

The approximate site of the palace is marked by Katherine's Cross, erected in the 1770s to commemorate Katherine of Aragon who lived for a time at the palace. Although there are no upstanding walls, there exists a detailed survey of the palace precinct drawn up in 1534 which enables the plan and extent of the ruins to be ascertained. The main precinct comprised four wings ranged about a rectangular inner court, with a gatehouse on the east wing and kitchens and a great hall on the north. Other chambers were the state rooms and private quarters. The external dimensions of this precinct were about 65m east-west by 55m north-south. Outside the north wing was a smaller court, which contained a well-house. To the east and south the palace was surrounded by an outer, or 'Base', Court which had a range of buildings at the perimeter which contained stables, workshops and other rooms which housed the ancillary functions of the palace.

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(TL 02473839) Katherine's Cross (NAT)
On Site of (NAT)
Ampthill Castle (NR) (1)

Sir John Cornwall, Lord of Ampthill manor built a castle in the early C15th. Later this became royal property and Henry VIII placed it at the disposal of Catherine of Aragon during the divorce proceedings. By the end of the 16th, century it had fallen into decay, and its site is now marked by a stone cross erected in 1770, standing on an octagonal base of three steps. It is decorated with the arms of Castille and Aragon as well as the royal arms. (2)

Cross as described above, dated 1773. Poem carved on its side uses 'C' and not 'K' as the initial letter of the queen's name. (3)

The castle was built in the early 15th century, quadrangular in form with several courts with square and octagonal towers. It was demolished before 1649. (4)

A plan of the castle in the late 16th century shows it to have had a quadrangular plan with interval on three sides and a gatehouse. The main buildings were on the East side which was a two-storeyed building. The whole sat within a base-court.

Henry VIII visited the castle frequently, and it was well-maintained. By Elizabeth's accession, much of the castle was ruinous. In 1605, plans were made to convert the buildings to a hunting lodge for James I, but nothing came of it, and in a Parliamentary report of 1649 it was recorded that the buildings were by then totally demolished. See this source for more detailed information of repairs and alterations undertaken while the house was in royal possession. (5)

Ampthill Castle, of which there are no standing remains, was built in the early 1400s by Sir John Cornwall, later Lord Fanhope. He married Elizabeth, sister of Henry IV. The palace came into the hands of Henry VIII in 1524 and Katherine of Aragon lived there during the divorce proceedings of 1533. The buildings had already fallen into decay by 1555 and at the time of the 1567 survey its partial demolition was planned. Final demolition took place before 1649. Ampthill Park is a landscape designed by Capability Brown and is a Registered Garden.

The approximate site of the palace is marked by Katherine's Cross, erected in the 1770s to commemorate Katherine of Aragon who lived for a time at the palace. Although there are no upstanding walls, there exists a detailed survey of the palace precinct drawn up in 1534 which enables the plan and extent of the ruins to be ascertained. The main precinct comprised four wings ranged about a rectangular inner court, with a gatehouse on the east wing and kitchens and a great hall on the north. Other chambers were the state rooms and private quarters. The external dimensions of this precinct were about 65m east-west by 55m north-south. Outside the north wing was a smaller court, measuring 60m east-west by 20m north-south, which contained a well-house. To the east and south the palace was surrounded by an outer, or 'Base', Court which had a range of buildings at the perimeter which contained stables, workshops and other rooms which housed the ancillary functions of the palace. The outer range of buildings lay about 45m to the east of the east wing of the inner court and, although the full extent of the outer court is not shown, it must have extended for a similar distance to the south. (6)

Elizabeth of Lancaster, Henry IV's sister married Sir John Cornewall in the summer of the year 1400. Some time prior to 1424 he bought an estate in Bedfordshire and began construction of Ampthill Castle. The castle was completed by 1429 and in 1432 he acquired the title Lord Fanhope. (7)

In 1771-2 the second Earl of Upper Ossory employed Lancelot Brown to landscape Ampthill Park which had originally been a deer park. Henry VIII was said to have used Ampthill Great Park and Ampthill Little Park on his frequent visits to the castle. (8)

SOURCE TEXT

( 1) Ordnance Survey Map (Scale / Date)

OS 6" 1960

( 2) edited by William Page 1912 The Victoria History of the county Bedford : volume III

The Victoria history of the counties of England Page(s)270

( 3) Field Investigators Comments

F1 BHS 20-AUG-70

(4) by David J Cathcart King 1983 Castellarium anglicanum : an index and bibliography of the castles in England, Wales and the islands. Volume I : Anglesey - Montgomery

Page(s)7

(5) by H M Colvin ... [et al] 1982 The history of the King's Works, volume 4 : 1485-1660 (Part 2)

Page(s)42-7

(6) Scheduled Monument Notification

Scheduled 03-JUL-1992

(7) World Wide Web page

Goodman, Anthony. 2004. Elizabeth of Lancaster (1364?-1425), Oxford University Press http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/54443/?back=,54423,54443,54423 [accessed 20-MAY-2009]

(8) English Heritage Register of parks and gardens of special historic interest in England

Bedfordshire, 30-NOV-1986

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