Images: artist’s rendition of Tutbury castle; southeast wing ruins with chapel site excavation in foreground; castle mound with remains of tower (photo: C.A. Stanford)
Acquired: 1509 (by inheritance)
This castle was part of the properties of the Duchy of Lancaster and thus part of Henry VIII’s inheritance. It was surrounded by forests and parks, and it was a good spot for hunting, though not frequently used as a residence. The king paid at least one visit in 1511, although building work was evidently not very proactive, as a few years later the kitchen roof fell down and in 1523 a survey noted further defects in the lodgings and curtain wall. These were repaired but it is doubtful if Henry visited again.
Tutbury is most famous for its use as a site where Mary, Queen of Scots was kept under arrest. It saw use in the Civil War, and as a result was slighted. Today the castle is in private hands, and open to the public.