Thornbury Castle - was it built as a castle or a palace?

The outer court of the castle is very large area 75m by 96m it is ideal for drilling the army who stayed in the barracks that surround the outer court.

The west front was uncompleted the source below shows what it would have looked like if had it been finished.

The west fronts stone work is very strong typical of a defensive castle. Embedded in this virtually impregnable wall are some cross cross slits that are again a very castle like feature that Buckingham liked. There is one turret on the west front that was completed; it has machicolations and battlements around the top a very defensive feature. All of these things indicate that it was a castle. But there are some palace features that let the west front down, it has windows on the second floor and the wall was only half its intended height this makes the castle vulnerable this indicates that it was a palace. If the west front was finished it would have been strong with its 4 turrets and 2 towers the only thing that indicates this is a palace is the main gateway. The main gateway may have a double portcullis, but it has a dramatic window that is clearly for showing off Buckingham’s status. Other gatehouses of grand houses are quite similar (see fig 1&2 on sources page). These were clearly the fashion at the time and Buckingham was showing off this suggests that Buckingham was building something to show his wealth, not for security.

The inner court is 120 feet deep and 110 feet wide, not designed for defence but for grandeur. It now has only 3 sides one has either never been completed or has fallen down historians disagree on this aspect. This shows that it was not built like a castle strong and lasts a long time. It has lots of windows normal stonework this supports the view that Thornbury is a palace. The walls on the east side of the court are quite high and unfinished at the end of the wall you can tell this because there are jagged edges. This shows that it was not completely finished. Above all there is one of the most elaborate brick chimneys of the time. This is clearly not for a defensive castle because it could easily be destroyed some would say that this is a major palace feature.

The south front has two of the most elaborate two storied bay windows of that time. The window’s are the most palace like feature in Thornbury castle, the only way they could have been used for defence is if you used the broken glass once it had been destroyed to stab someone! These windows are designed for pure comfort and for Buckingham to show off his wealth to all the other dukes of the time. One historian described the windows as ‘two of the finest-two storied bay windows of this period which survive anywhere in this country’. I agree with her because they serve no purpose but to improve Buckingham's image. Other features are the privy gardens that are a typical palace feature. The wall in front of the windows is no mach for canons because it is not very high, thick and it contains a door and windows. The door is only wooden put there most likely so Buckingham could go to church. This wall is just a curtain to give some privacy in the privy garden. Overall the south front is a palace.

Castles were not needed at the time because there was not a war, castles were also expensive and uncomfortable, and so it makes no sense to build one. Edward Stafford’s motives for building a castle were to make himself look impressive and show of his wealth you can tell this by the bay windows large gardens, grounds and walls. Other historians agree with me on that. Also above the main gateway there is Safford’s symbol the Stafford knot and his coat of arms. The coat of arms say all of his titles but there is one left blank which is quite large this could have been intended for king of England. This would explain why he had a private army and Thornbury Castle this could be the reason why he was executed.

Other castles and manor houses/palaces were in this kind of style at the time if you look at sources 3&4 you can see the castle like battlements and turrets. The palace features like large windows all of these are also at Thornbury castle this suggests that Thornbury is a just fitting in the style and fashion at the time. If you look at real castle like the tower of London you do not see thin walls and windows unlike Thornbury castle.

Thornbury castle has many features that point to a castle and others that point to a palace because the palace was uncompleted it makes the decision very hard to make. This historian said ‘I believe it may be true to say that Thornbury was the last English castle to be built with a serious purpose of defence’. On the other hand K.B.McFarlane considered Thornbury indefensible and regarded the military features ‘only as romantic adjuncts of nobility’. I think that Thornbury castle does not stand up to its name because it is a palace designed to look like a castle; if you take a close look it is plain to see that it is a palace.