Boscobel House

Built in the late 1500's and extended in the 1630's, Boscobel House is a timber framed hunting lodge. The outbuildings and dairy farm were used right up until the 1960s as a working farm. All the cow stalls and ceamery are still there.

A house of this period does of course contain priest holes, the hiding places that were life savers for Catholic priests. The timber framed parts of the house have all warped over the centuries and the floorboards are warped too, so that you can't walk about without finding a squeak. It has a lovely little Chapel set on the top floor.

In fact, pretty a setting as it is, there is little to distinguish it from other properties, except for 2 nights in September 1651 when King Charles II fled here after losing the battle of Worcester. It is also here that the famous Royal Oak stands or stood.

The King first came to nearby Whiteladies Priory, an Augustian Nunnery that was dissovled and sold in 1538 by Henry VIII and now a ruins. The King was looked after by the 5 Penderel brothers who conducted him to Boscobel House.

The King spent the day hiding in the nearby famous Oak Tree with a major Careless. An event that resonates down to us as all over the country there are pubs called the Royal Oak. The tree actually no longer exists but a daughter tree has stood for a couple of hundred tears on the spot and got hit by lightning so unfortunately has suffered, a new sapling was planted, a grand daughter tree that now grows healthilly.

Upon the retoration of the Monarchy 9 years later the King never forgot those who helped him, the Penderel brothers were given a pension that is still paid to their descendents to this day.


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