Places with Tudor connections

Visitors in the Great Hall at Montacute House, Somerset | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

Transport yourself back to Tudor times with a visit to the places we care for. These historic homes tell stories of Henry VIII and his six wives, the reign of Elizabeth I and the birth of the Church of England.

Baddesley Clinton, Warwickshire: Near the historic town of Warwick lies the moated Baddesley Clinton. Henry Ferrers inherited the home from his great-grandfather in 1570 and went on to build much of the south and east sides of the house. During his time away, the Catholic Vaux sisters rented the house and created three priest holes to hide Catholic priests escaping persecution.Visit Baddesley Clinton
Buckland Abbey, Devon: Originally built as a Cistercian abbey in 1278, Buckland was remodelled and converted into a house by Richard Grenville after 1576. He sold it to Sir Francis Drake, the first Englishman to sail all the way round the world. It was from here that Drake planned his attack on the Spanish Armada, after receiving Elizabeth I's commission in 1587 giving him command of the fleet. This historic document is kept at Buckland Abbey.Visit Buckland Abbey
Canons Ashby, Northamptonshire: The Elizabethan manor of Canons Ashby is built from the remains of a medieval Augustinian priory. It was one of the first priories to be closed in 1536 during the Reformation, a time when many religious buildings were shut down. Sir Francis Bryan, a childhood friend of Henry VIII, reduced the church to around a quarter of its original size. Materials from the priory were removed and recycled to build the manor house.Visit Canons Ashby
Charlecote Park, Warwickshire: The manor was built in 1558 by Thomas Lucy and his wife, Joyce Acton, on the site of an earlier medieval house. The family's strong support for Protestantism and loyalty to the crown was praised by Elizabeth I, who knighted Thomas and his son. She visited Charlecote in 1572 and her portrait still hangs in the library. There’s also a bust of Shakespeare in the Great Hall, which references the legend that he was caught poaching in Charlecote Park as a young man.Visit Charlecote Park
Cotehele, Cornwall: The Tudor house of Cotehele sits high above the River Tamar. In 1483 its owner, Richard Edgcumbe, joined a rebellion against Richard III. The rebellion failed, and the Chapel in the Wood marks the spot where Edgcumbe made a narrow escape from Richard III’s men. Two years later, Edgcumbe fought alongside Henry Tudor at the Battle of Bosworth. As a reward he was knighted and became Comptroller of the Royal Household.Visit Cotehele

A woman taking a picture of another woman, who is standing amid a carpet of daffodils in front of a grey stone mansion — Visitors exploring the gardens at Cotehele, Cornwall | © National Trust Images/Chris Lacey

Coughton Court, Warwickshire: The Throckmorton family has lived at Coughton Court for over 600 years, since 1409. Katherine Vaux, who married Sir George Throckmorton in the early 16th century, was the aunt of Catherine Parr, Henry VIII's sixth and final wife. The Tower Room has a priest hole with two compartments. If the first section was opened, the second one would keep the priest hidden.Visit Coughton Court
Fountains Abbey, North Yorkshire: Fountains Abbey was a victim of the dissolution of the monasteries under Henry VIII. It was once one of the richest religious houses in Europe and its ruins are now some of the most complete Cistercian abbey remains in the country. They can be viewed at a distance from Anne Boleyn’s Seat, named after the nearby headless statue, in Studley Royal Water Garden.Visit Fountains Abbey
Ightham Mote, Kent: This moated manor house sits in a secluded valley in Kent. Its previous owner, Richard Clement, was a royal courtier who served both Henry VII and Henry VIII. After buying Ightham Mote in 1521, he made a lot of changes to the house. He added the royal coat of arms to the ceiling of the chapel and to the windows of the Great Hall to show his loyalty to Henry VIII. He attended Anne Boleyn's coronation in 1533, but was also involved in her downfall in 1536.Visit Ightham Mote
Knole, Kent: Set in the heart of Kent's last medieval deer park, Knole was originally built and extended by Archbishops of Canterbury. Henry VIII was so impressed with it that he forced Archbishop Cranmer to give it to him. It stayed in royal hands until 1561, when Elizabeth I gifted it to her favourite courtier, Robert Dudley. In 1566, the house passed to Thomas Sackville and his descendants still live there today. Please pre-book your visit to guarantee entry.Visit Knole
Lavenham Guildhall, Suffolk: Located in the heart of Lavenham, this timber-framed hall was built 500 years ago using profits from the medieval cloth trade. It tells the story of one of the best preserved and wealthiest villages in Tudor England. Discover the stories of the men and women who shaped the fortunes of this village and how the Guildhall has been used by its community for centuries.Visit Lavenham Guildhall

A panoramic view of Buckland Abbey seen from the north. The Great Barn stands out prominently to the left. — Buckland Abbey, Devon | © National Trust Images/Andrew Butler

Lindisfarne Castle, Northumberland: This castle is located close to the Scottish border. It was built as a fort in the 1540s, strategically placed with far-reaching views of the coastline. The stone used to build the castle came from Lindisfarne Priory, which Henry VIII shut down a few years earlier. The castle was a defence against border raids by the Scots, until England and Scotland were united under James I.Visit Lindisfarne Castle
Little Moreton Hall, Cheshire: The crooked walls of Little Moreton Hall have stood for over 500 years. This Tudor house, with its black-and-white timber walls and surrounding moat, is known for its uneven structure. Inside, you can learn about everyday Tudor life and what it tells us about the way we live today. There are also witch marks left on the house to ward off evil.Visit Little Moreton Hall
Montacute House, Somerset: A masterpiece of Elizabethan Renaissance architecture, Montacute House was designed to make a powerful impression. It was built by skilled craftsmen using local ham stone, under the guidance of William Arnold, a master mason. The house was a statement of wealth, ambition and showmanship. Its Tudor owner, Sir Edward Phelips, had a successful political career and played a key role in the trial of Guy Fawkes and the gunpowder plotters.Visit Montacute House
Nunnington Hall, North Yorkshire: Nunnington Hall has Tudor origins. William Parr, brother of Henry VIII’s sixth wife Catherine Parr, inherited the estate. He was involved in a scheme to place Lady Jane Grey on the throne after Edward VI's death. This led to William losing his estates, which were taken by the Crown. Later, Nunnington Hall was rented by Dr Robert Huicke, a physician to Elizabeth I and earlier, to Henry and Catherine.Visit Nunnington Hall
Oxburgh Hall, Norfolk: The castle-like Oxburgh Hall was built during the War of the Roses by the Bedingfeld family. Its grand gatehouse contains the King’s Room, named after the visit of Henry VII and his wife in 1498, although they did not stay overnight. The Bedingfeld family, which maintained their Catholic faith after the Reformation, later had a priest hole built in the garderobe (lavatory) leading from the King’s Room.Visit Oxburgh Hall
Paycocke's House and Garden, Essex: Built around 1500, Paycocke's House is a grand example of the wealth created by the cloth trade in East Anglia during the 16th century. Its original owner, Thomas, decorated it with detailed carvings and panelling to display the riches he earned as a merchant. He also used the house as a showroom for his high-quality woollen cloth.Visit Paycocke's House and Garden

Woman and child drawing at Sutton House and Breaker's yard — Visitors at Sutton House and Breaker's Yard, London | © National Trust Images/Rob Stothard

Rufford Old Hall, Lancashire: Rufford Old Hall was built for the Hesketh family around 1530 and may have hosted William Shakespeare for a performance. Its timber-framed Great Hall is a grand example of Tudor architecture, with a hammerbeam roof and ornate carvings. There's also a 16th-century screen in the Great Hall, the only one of its kind known to have survived intact.Visit Rufford Old Hall
Sissinghurst Castle Garden, Kent: Originally built in medieval times, Sissinghurst was bought by Sir John Baker around 1530. A wealthy man, he held a number of positions during the reigns of Henry VIII, Edward VI and Mary I. Sissinghurst’s location in the Weald of Kent, along with its owners’ wealth, made it a convenient place for travelling monarchs to stay. Mary I visited in 1557 and Elizabeth I stayed in 1573. Sissinghurst is also home to an Elizabethan tower capped with octagonal turrets.Visit Sissinghurst Castle Garden
Speke Hall, Liverpool: Before the early 16th century, English homes were built with a series of interconnecting rooms instead of corridors. When Cardinal Wolsey borrowed the idea of corridors from the French for Hampton Court, the trend spread. Speke Hall is one of the earliest examples of a private house built with corridors, giving the Norris family more privacy and keeping the rooms warmer.Visit Speke Hall
Sutton House and Breaker's Yard, London: Built in 1535 by Sir Ralph Sadleir, Sutton House is one of London's last surviving Tudor homes. Sadleir was a close aide of Thomas Cromwell, and became Secretary of State to Henry VII by 1540. The house was his family home. You can explore oak-panelled chambers and a great hall, as well as a tranquil courtyard.Visit Sutton House
Trerice, Cornwall: This Elizabethan manor house is known for its decorative plasterwork and was built as a statement of wealth. It has barely changed over the centuries, thanks to a series of absentee owners who lived off their rental income from leased land and property. The Elizabethan knot garden is home to apple trees and there's also a four-poster Tudor bed, complete with original carvings on the headboard.Visit Trerice
Tudor Merchant's House, Pembrokeshire: This 16th-century house is in Tenby, a busy sea port in Tudor times importing a wide variety of stock for sale. The merchant who lived here traded in cloth, vinegar, sea coal, pots and spices. The house served as both shop and home. The merchant may have witnessed Henry Tudor escape with his uncle, Jasper Tudor, by ship from Tenby during the Wars of Roses. Henry later became Henry VII, and Jasper had his power base at nearby Pembroke.Visit Tudor Merchant's House
Ty Mawr Wybrnant, Conwy: This modest 16th-century farmhouse is the birthplace of Bishop William Morgan. He was the first person to translate the Bible into Welsh, helping to preserve the language. The first edition appeared in 1588, before the King James Bible, with a revised version published in 1620 that is still used in Wales today.Visit Ty Mawr Wybrnant
The Vyne, Hampshire: The Vyne was transformed from a cluster of medieval buildings into a Tudor palace by Lord Sandys, Henry VIII’s Lord Chamberlain. Henry visited The Vyne several times, often with Catherine of Aragon. Stained glass in the chapel, where Henry attended mass, shows them together. Anne Boleyn later visited with Henry, and Lord Sandys’ son also welcomed Elizabeth I here in 1569. There’s a highly carved Tudor oak gallery to explore.Visit The Vyne

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