The transformation of Kimbolton Castle in the early 18th century was the product of two remarkable men: Sir John Vanbrugh, dramatist-turned-architect, and Charles Montagu, 4th Earl (later Duke) of Manchester, a statesman, diplomat, and discerning patron of the arts. Their partnership brought together politics, culture, and architecture in a way that reshaped the Castle — and left a lasting legacy.
Vanbrugh’s theatrical eye
Vanbrugh came to architecture from the stage. His background as a playwright and theatre designer gave him an instinct for spectacle, bold spaces, and dramatic vistas. At Kimbolton, this flair is evident in the Saloon, conceived almost like a stage set, opening onto the gardens and canal as though the landscape were part of the performance. His approach combined grandeur with a romantic vision of the medieval past — castellated parapets, chimneys, and austere façades that evoked history while remaining rooted in classical proportion.
Manchester’s cultural tastes
Charles Montagu was equally influential in shaping the Castle’s new identity. A leading Whig, he supported William III at the Battle of the Boyne and later served as ambassador in Venice and Paris. His exposure to Italian art and music gave him an unusually early taste for continental culture. He became a patron of Italian artists and musicians, commissioning the Venetian painter Antonio Pellegrini to decorate the great staircase and helping to bring Handel to London’s opera scene.
Montagu’s refined eye complemented Vanbrugh’s architectural daring. Together, they fused English Baroque with Italian colour, creating interiors of extraordinary richness beneath Vanbrugh’s strong, castle-like shell.
Romantic medievalism
Vanbrugh’s decision to cloak Kimbolton in battlements was not mere decoration. He believed that architecture could carry historical and emotional weight. Inspired by buildings such as Bolsover Castle, he sought to revive the “castle air” of England’s past. At Kimbolton, the choice was especially resonant: the Castle was once the last residence of Katherine of Aragon, first wife of Henry VIII. By giving the Montagus a home that looked medieval yet felt modern, Vanbrugh strengthened their lineage and tied their identity to national history.
An evolving house
Even after Vanbrugh’s work, the Castle continued to change. The Earl later added a classical portico to the east front, softening Vanbrugh’s austere design with more fashionable ornament. This tension between medieval romanticism and classical order is part of what makes Kimbolton unique.
Why Kimbolton matters
Unlike Castle Howard or Blenheim, Kimbolton is not a museum piece. It remains a living Vanbrugh house, still used every day as the home of Kimbolton School. From the façades that greet visitors to the Pellegrini staircase that greets pupils, Vanbrugh’s vision continues to shape daily life here. In the year of Vanbrugh 300, Kimbolton stands as both heritage and home — a castle reimagined for the 18th century, still alive in the 21st.
