Thornbury Fortress Resort has been topped Britain’s greatest romantic resort in 2021 by The Instances. Visitors journey again in time to the times of the Tudors, to a citadel that was as soon as Henry VIII’s nation seat, for a wonderful style of Renaissance life.
Sleep like a king in Henry VIII’s octagonal suite, the place he and Anne Boleyn stayed for 10 days in 1535 whereas they waited for the Bristol Plague to finish. Climb the 77 steps to Catherine of Aragon’s fairytale tower with its 10-foot-wide mattress. Or loosen up in any of the opposite 25 fantastically embellished bedrooms. Recalling the opulent lifetime of the Tudor period, Thornbury has opulent bedrooms quite than rooms.
Thornbury Fortress, begun in 1510 by Edward Stafford, third Duke of Buckingham, was nearing completion when Henry appropriated it after Stafford’s execution for treason in 1521.
Welcome
With solely 27 bedrooms, the welcome is heat and private. First we’re proven the lounge, the place afternoon tea is served, after which the library resulting in the bar.
Our baggage is carried throughout the courtyard backyard to our bed room and proven to a low arched door. No marvel Henry Vllll usually had complications. At 6’2” he was a Tudor large.
Bed room
Beneath a beamed ceiling and glowing chandelier, Mary Queen of Scots’ grand bed room options armchairs, a dressing desk, chests of drawers, a fire and tapestry.
Our view is throughout the rose backyard to the window which was a part of Stafford’s first flooring lodging. Above is a pink brick chimney from 1514 which is a 12 months older than the Hampton Courtroom chimney.
Whereas there’s loads of uncovered stonework inside the citadel’s four-foot-thick partitions, the bed room, with its chandelier-style wall lights casting a heat pool of sunshine, and acres of fitted carpet, is surprisingly cozy.
Thornbury’s house owners have discreetly launched modern comforts: a fridge hidden behind darkish wooden marquetry, a TV filled with details about the property and a cellphone charger subsequent to the mattress. Broad cover beds are designed for contemporary individuals, not vertically challenged Tudors. Every bed room is called after a distinguished determine from the Tudor period, and the forged checklist contains Henry’s six wives. Contained in the gilded body is instructed the story of the painful lifetime of Mary, Queen of Scots. Entangled in Catholic-Protestant conflicts and Euro energy politics, she was imprisoned for 19 years earlier than her execution.
Rest room
Hobbit-sized doorways lead by a mini-hallway of fitted wardrobes right into a dual-aspect toilet. Wood shutters defend privateness.
Even right here you’ll be able to’t escape the historical past and legacy of Stafford’s ego. His Sealed Knot Coat of Arms is etched into the glass of the bathe door and embroidered on flannel.
Objects
Thornbury restaurant with 3 AA rosettes attracts foodies from far and huge. From the second visitors sit down within the library of historic tomes or within the lounge with fireplace drinks, this can be a regal eating expertise. A black-tailed maitre d’ walks between the bars and eating places guaranteeing that his waistcoat-wearing employees, immaculate in white blouses and black ties, present polished service.
A portrait of Henry VIII, in that well-known domineering pose astride, overlooks one of many two eating rooms. Though he would not approve of government chef Carl Cleghorn’s mild and complex menu regardless of its very good sourcing and eye-pleasing presentation.
Henry was extra of a glutton for half-roasted boar than a fragile stewed leg of gourmand beef. Pan-seared flounder with salt cod mash, grilled jewel lettuce, brown shrimp and mussels could be too refined for a monarch’s style. And what would a unstable carnivore’s response be to spicy quinoa?
By way of services, there may be not a single cardio machine or swimming pool at Thornbury Fortress. However as an indication of enjoyment within the twenty first century, there’s a number of enjoyable massages.
In any other case, the actions are distinctly Tudor. Archery, croquet or falconry on the garden. A stroll in a great backyard the place girls used to collect to gossip subsequent to beehives fabricated from skep straw, amongst quince and strawberry bushes. Or a stroll by the maze the place they might have been debating who would succeed Anne Boleyn as queen. Solely 10 months into her keep at Thornbury, Anne died. Beheaded.
location
Overlooking the Severn Estuary, Thornbury is inside a brief drive of Bristol for visits to the Clifton Suspension Bridge, restored docks and Brunel’s SS Nice Britain.
A barely longer drive takes visitors to Bathtub with its grand Regency structure and Jane Austen legacy.
Different good issues
A decanter of thorn gin, distilled regionally, makes for a calming nightcap.
Harking back to a bygone period of service, early morning tea and occasional may be delivered. Though there’s a very spectacular tea and occasional tray, together with a copper cafetière contained in the bed room.
No bland, lukewarm breakfast buffet right here. A piping sizzling breakfast is freshly cooked to order. Neither is tea from an electrical machine. The aristocratic tea menu contains Halmari Property Assam and Himalayan Darjeeling picks. Evidently, decaffeinated tea and occasional are additionally out there.
For a novel celebration of an important day, you’ll be able to ebook a personal dinner within the dungeon.
Prices
Bed room costs begin from £299. For dinner, three programs from the a la carte menu price £59.
The perfect half
Ebook a tour with a historian to find out how Stafford’s relationship with King Henry VIII was a microcosm of the Tudor interval: energy, strife and beheadings. By the top of Henry’s reign in 1547, executions had decimated the Stafford household tree.
With stone from his Cotswold quarries, Edward Stafford designed a stately citadel that was additionally a palace that arrogantly flaunted its standing. His title and titles are displayed above the door, and heraldic crests with a sealed knot are carved all through the property.
Because the second richest man in England, a descendant of Edward III, he thought he had extra declare to the throne than his cousin, Henry VIII. As historian David Starkey has written, Stafford barely bent the knee to Henry. That was till Henry lured Stafford to London and had him beheaded in 1521.
Closing verdict
An enchanting perception into the Tudor period with modern royal consolation. There’s additionally a helipad for many who journey from far and huge for chef Carl Cleghorn’s glorious meals.
Disclosure: Our keep was sponsored by Thornbury Fortress Resort and Restaurant.
Did you take pleasure in this text?
Obtain related content material straight to your inbox.
Please allow JavaScript in your browser to submit the shape