Page 12 - Oundle Life January 2021

It is unclear whether this statement refers to the sixteenth-century domestic buildings that were added within the castle, or to the house now known as Barnwell Manor built alongside.
The castle remained within the Montagu family and descendants for almost 400 years before being sold by the 6th Duke of Buccleuch in 1913. The estate was sold again in 1938, when their Royal Highnesses Prince Henry and Princess Alice, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, bought it as their family home. Incidentally, Princess Alice was a direct descendent of Sir Edward Montagu and the granddaughter of the 6th Duke of Buccleuch – Barnwell Castle was back in the family.
In the 1990’s, with a mounting deficit, the Royals relocated to Kensington Palace and Barnwell Castle & Manor adapted once more to the changing times; becoming home to Windsor House Antiques – an appointment
only, and world-renowned antiques dealer. I am enormously grateful to the Windsor House team for granting me most-privileged access to photograph the castle.
For security reasons, neither Barnwell Castle nor Barnwell Manor are open to the general public so please enjoy these photos as your own virtual tour.
Image Credit: Barnwell Castle Plan pg. 206, “The English Castle” by John Goodall.
Joe Croser, first studied architecture in Oxford, and later completed postgrad research into historic buildings in Cambridge. Today he leads Oundle Architecture with a particular
focus on residential design and historic building conservation and refurbishment. www.oundlearchitecture.com
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