When Henry VII, the founder of the Tudor dynasty, ascended the throne of England in 1485 he bequeathed Collyweston Palace, in Northamptonshire, to his mother, Lady Margaret Beaufort, Countess of Richmond and Derby. This sprawling manor house became the administrative center of the Midlans for decades until it disappeared completely. Until now.
For centuries, the legend about this mansion grew. Henry VII, Henry VIII and Elizabeth I had paraded through it. It was also the site where 13-year-old Margaret Tudor married James IV of Scotland to unite the English and Scottish royal houses. But then, nothing. Its extent and exact position were not known.
Five years ago, the more than 80 members of the Collyweston Preservation and Historical Society, made up of amateur archaeologists and historians ranging from teenagers to people in their 70s and 80s, searched for the “lost castle” for more than 500 years. Although they were aware that their chances of success were slim, they began by digging up the backyard gardens of a private house.
Without money or much expectations, the amateur group followed a hunch using “folk tales and local rumors” to refine their search area. In the 1980s and 1990s several attempts had already been made to find Collyweston Palace. But the advantages of modern technology were not available, so none of these operations had been successful.
Despite its importance, especially during the 15th century, the great mansion was especially in disrepair by the mid-17th century. When archaeologists began uncovering the remains of the house last March, they realized that the palace had “privy councils” administered from Northamptonshire.
Researchers from the University of York helped verify the findings and identified the mansion through some discovered stone moldings. Hence they collaborated with the amateur group to begin more excavations and reveal the structure even more.
Geophysical surveys were carried out and ground-penetrating radar was used to reveal the location of the palace walls hidden beneath the garden floor. The original palace, which had already been rebuilt and enlarged by a chancellor of Henry V, was also improved and enlarged by Lady Margaret Beaufort.
By the early 16th century the manor had become his favorite home and, according to experts, it is well documented that he spent more time at Collyweston than at any other of his numerous residences. In 1503, Henry VII secured a peace agreement with the Scots by marrying his daughter Margaret to James IV.
Ancient texts say that the extensive pre-wedding celebrations, which apparently lasted two weeks or more, took place at Collyweston. Hence, more improvement works will be carried out to accommodate the King. The wedding entourage paraded along what is now the A43 (one of the main routes in the Midlans) accompanied by trumpeters, lords and ladies.
King Henry VIII gave the manor to the ill-fated Queen Anne Boleyn, who was executed for adultery and treason in 1536. Just five years later, the monarch took his entire court (along with between 200 and 300 members of his staff) to the palace to hold a meeting on October 16 and 17, 1941.
After this, Henry VIII granted the manor to Henry Fitzroy, the illegitimate son he had with one of his mistresses, Elizabeth Blount. The last royal to stay at Collyweston was Queen Elizabeth I, who is recorded as having held court there on 3 August 1566.
Based on records held at the National Archives, it seems possible that Elizabeth visited the house several times, as there are several “repair books” relating to Collyweston detailing both the names and sums paid to local merchants.
By 2024, the Collyweston Historical and Preservation Society plans to carry out new excavations to determine where the entrance to the palace was, what its layout was, what materials were used for its construction… and explain its findings in a permanent exhibition in the church of St Andrews, Collyweston.
