Royal Progress day 8

Day 8 Kenilworth Castle & Buckden Towers Kenilworth castle, the largest ruined castle in England and is significant In English history for several important events. Henry V was here in 1415 when the French King sent him a present of tennis balls an insult that led to Henry defeating the French at the battle of Agincourt. The centrepiece now is the privy garden English Heritage have faithfully recreated that Robert Dudley built to amuse Elizabeth I in that grand progress of 1575. He spent millions in today’s money to get Elizabeth to marry him all to no avail. She remained the Virgin queen married to England. The castle was destroyed after our civil war by Oliver Cromwell to prevent it being used as a rallying point for Royalist forces. Everywhere you look there are spectacular views if the ruins, angles and arches, empty windows and great stone walls. Onto Buckden Towers a tranquil jewel once a bishops palace and is where Catherine of Aragon was held for nearly two years before being moved on by Henry VIII. Once again the place is in the ownership of the church, The Claretian missionaries now own it after many years in private hands. The friends of Buckden have created a replica knot garden of type that Catherine would have known. It’s a beautiful peaceful setting and somehow a fitting tribute to Buckden’s most famous resident. We finished the day with a stroll around the Town of Stamford visiting a few hostelries before having dinner in our hotel. The George claiming to be the oldest hotel in England dating from 947. A hotel of great character and where our guests enjoyed their first taste of Pimms