Kimbolton Castle

Kimbolton Castle is a former stately home in Cambridgeshire. It became known as the last place of residence of Catherine of Aragon, the first wife of Henry VIII

The original medieval castle was rebuilt as a representative residence and served from 1615 to 1950 the Dukes of Manchester as a family residence. Today it houses the " Kimbolton School ".

History

The beginnings of the plant go back to Norman times. Under John Lackland was Geoffrey Fitz Peter, 1st Earl of Essex, the market rights for Kimbolton. As a result, even now existing church was built at the site, as well as a Manor House in the immediate vicinity of the present manor house, which no longer exists.

Until 1520, the property changed owners several times, as the family of Wingfild undertook a restructuring in the Tudor style. In April 1534 Catherine of Aragon was banished after Kimbolton, because they had refused to agree to the annulment of their marriage because of childlessness. Catherine died two years later, she was buried in the Cathedral of Peterborough. 1615 bought Sir Henry Montagu, later Earl of Manchester, the property, which his descendants lived 335 years until it was sold in 1951.

During the Second World War, the home of the Royal Army was used as a military hospital. After the change of ownership in 1950 Kimbolton Castle was rebuilt as a school. The historic inventory was scattered, some objects found their way into English museums. Preserved are representative rooms with wall paintings by Giovanni Antonio Pellegrini and a series of portraits that can be visited.