The traditional village where a Tudor queen was once banished

The former Tudor queen stopped by this village before she made her way to another part of Cambridgeshire

There are many parts of Cambridgeshire that have been visited or even lived in by royalty. The county played an important role in the Tudor era, especially with Catherine of Aragon.

The former Tudor queen, and Henry VIII’s first wife, was buried at Peterborough Cathedral. However, in the years before she died, she lived in other parts of Cambridgeshire.

After Henry got bored of Catherine and found his next wife in Anne Boleyn, Catherine was banished to Buckden, near St Neots. Catherine was sent to live at Buckden Palace, known today as Buckden Towers. She stayed in the palace from July 1533 to May 1534. She was then sent to nearby Kimbolton Castle where she died in 1536.

Years later after Catherine died, Henry VIII stayed in Buckden Palace with his fifth wife Catherine Howard in 1541, they stayed there during a summer tour took before the coronation.

It was during this tour that Catherine was accused of adultery with Thomas Culpeper, which led to her beheading for treason in 1542. Other notable figures stayed at the former palace, including Henry VIII’s ancestors.

These were Henry III in 1248, Edward I in 1291, Richard III in 1483 and also Lady Margaret Beaufort, Henry VIII’s mother, in 1501. Hundreds of years later in 1956, it was given to the Claretian Missionaries.

It was initially used as a junior seminary and used for preliminary training for 11 to 18-year-olds who wanted to become Claretian missionary priests of brothers. However, this closed in 1965.

Today, Buckden Towers is a scheduled monument. The buildings aren’t open to the public, but the grounds are. Some pretty features of the grounds include the Knot Garden. This is accessed from the outer court.

It’s made up of a stone paved terrace with an inner gatehouse. There is a central fountain and stone paths to walk along.

The village of Buckden is home to around 3,000 people. As well as its historically significant towers, there is more on offer in the traditional village. The houses that fill the village are a mix of the modern and old. People will find a range of thatched cottages, but also large detached family homes and modern estates.

There are a number of highly rated pubs to eat and drink at while on a visit there. These include The Vine, the Coach House, as well as The Lion Hotel and George Hotel.