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Thornbury

The market town of Thornbury is located to the north of Bristol and has a fascinating history. The earliest account of Thornbury was in the time of King Athelstan, (A.D. 925-940) grandson of King Alfred the Great.

The history of the town revolves around the stunning 16th Century Thornbury Castle. Now a luxurious hotel with an outstanding restaurant, Thornbury Castle has played host to some renowned characters over the years.

King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn stayed here in 1535 and Princess Mary - later Queen Mary I - also lived here for several years.

Today, much still remains of the original 16th century building, with its coats of arms, intricate oriel windows, arrow loops and ornate carved ceilings.

The town centre is extremely pretty and a worthy winner of the Britain in Bloom Portman Cup in 2003.

>> Learn more with Thornbury - The Making of a County Town DVD from Bristol Gift Shop. Discover how Thornbury evolved from ancient origins into the beautiful country town of today through historical photos, rare archive material and modern film.