Sudeley Castle and gardens and Hidcote gardens..

Not the best of days today.. rather cloudy as I set off.. and unfortunately the skies got darker as I drove.

First stop Sudeley Castle. It's the only English castle to have a Queen buried there.. Katherine Parr, King Henry 8th's last wife is buried there..  Her body, almost intact was discovered by some women who noticed something odd buried near a wall in a field.  The farmer investigated and they found her body almost intact... the coffin being opened several times after that, though rendered her to 'ashes'...

Four of English Queens visited here: Anne Boleyn, Katherine Parr, Lady Jane Grey and Elizabeth I

The skies were somewhat threatening....

A sprial staircase ... was useful in that one person could protect the castle from invaders given the narrowness of the stairs only allow one person at a time...

Some pictures of the general areas; given the castle is still occupied and used, no pictures are permitted in the privately occupied part of the castle...

Inside the castle..

King Henry 8th!!

St Marys Church...

The tomb of Katherine Parr who lies here in the 15th century church

Bet the gardeners love this 'helper' who was helping himself to some of the plants!!

I left Sudely and went to Hidcote Gardens for some lunch !!

and a short wander.  I'd been there in June with Pete & Trev  and I wanted to go elsewhere before returning to where I'm staying.

Sadly I had to return to base without a wander through the village of Broadway... but another lovely day out despite the rain shower...