A castle owned by the same family for almost 500 years after being presented to them by Henry VIII is celebrating winning a prestigious award for the conservation of one of its rarest exhibits.
Surrounded by a 3,000-acre historic parkland, Lincolnshire’s Grimsthorpe Castle has had close connections to royalty ever since the King’s gift in 1516, resulting in an impressive collection of items made for England’s Kings and Queens, past and present.
The seat of the Barons Willoughby de Eresby – one of only three families in England who still fulfill the hereditary office of Lord Great Chamberlain – it also houses one of the largest collections of royal thrones and furnishings outside the Royal Palaces.
And one of its rarest treasures is a 17th-century silk doublet, last exhibited at the Victoria and Albert Museum (V&A) in the 1990s, which underwent conservation before returning to public viewing as part of the Castle’s 2024 exhibition ‘Military Lives’.
Dating back to the early 1600s, it is believed to have belonged to Robert Bertie, the 13th Lord Willoughby de Eresby, and along with a trunkhose – which is also part of the Castle’s collection – may have even been worn at the coronation of King James I.
Now Grimsthorpe has been presented with the 2024 Historic Houses Collections Award for a complex project to exhibit the outfit to visitors. This included the extensive conservation of the doublet, allowing it to be reunited with the trunkhose to complete the historic costume.
Displayed in new cabinets, bringing fresh insights into the rich heritage of Grimsthorpe and the influential role Robert Bertie played as a military leader of his time, visitors were able to see the complete ceremonial outfit as part of the 2024 exhibition. Due to the fragile nature of the costume, it will now go back into storage for a few years to preserve the delicate silk.
While the oldest part of the Castle, the King John’s Tower, dates to the late 12th Century, today the grand house is a mix of architectural styles including Tudor and Baroque, with the principal north front, being the final masterpiece of Sir John Vanbrugh, architect of Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard.
The Castle is now closed for the 2024 season but will open again to the public on select days from spring 2025.
Historic Houses is a not-for-profit organisation representing over 1,000 of the UK’s independently owned historic houses, castles, and gardens.
For more information, visit www.grimsthorpe.co.uk
For details about visiting Lincolnshire, see www.visitlincolnshire.com
Photos: Grimsthorpe Castle
