One of the features of Ampthill Park is Katherine’s Cross, erected in 1772 by Lord Ossory to commemorate Queen Catherine of Aragon, who was detained in “Ampthill Castle” while annulment proceedings of her marriage to King Henry Vlll were taking place in Dunstable. This society is trying to sort out a number of anomalies in the accepted story of this phase of our history. It is well known that a large Manor house was built in the park by Sir John Cornwall with ransom money gained from hostages taken at the battle of Agincourt 1415. The estate was bought by Edmond Grey of Wrest in 1454 but subsequently was forfeited to Henry Vll and it was in this house that Catherine was held by her husband Henry Vlll.

All visible structures have disappeared from the site but geophysical investigations by this Society in 2002 indicated a possible site for the Manor house with what appears to be a building within a large dry moat alongside to the west. The logical conclusion is that the latter is a Castle, probably of Norman date which preceded the Manor house - hence the perpetuation of the name Ampthill Castle. No historical record has been found of a castle on this site but a number of references within maintenance records of the manor imply that another building was in the area in the 1530’s. One quote is “mending of leads on the great tower standing on the west side of the manor”. Historical records are being pursued and pseudo-sections have been taken at strategic points. No excavation has been possible to date as it is a scheduled site. This is obviously a sensitive site with its royal connections.