Tutbury combines a long history of its castle and town with walks along the River Dove. For your stay, you can focus on archaeological traces, church architecture, social and industrial history, or riverside paths. These different themes reveal different sides of the town, without implying a particular route to follow.
Castle Archaeology and History
Tutbury Castle stands on a natural promontory overlooking the floodplain of the River Dove. The castle grounds include earthworks that rise above the ground as well as those concealed beneath it. They contain archaeological and environmental evidence of the site's use over more than six centuries. The motte-and-bailey castle was built by Henry de Ferrers by 1071. This early construction history and the later traces in the landscape offer two different perspectives on the castle over time.
Mary Queen of Scots was imprisoned at Tutbury Castle in 1569, 1570 and 1585. The three dates refer to multiple stays rather than a single continuous period of imprisonment. The castle's visitor attractions are described as including atmospheric rooms, museum exhibitions and guided tours; check access before your trip. Its year-round programme includes medieval reenactments, falconry displays, ghost tours and family events. Specific dates may change, so it is worth checking the events calendar before your visit.
Church Architecture, Museum and Glassmaking History
The Church of St Mary offers an architectural contrast to the castle. Its west façade dates from around 1160 to 1170. At the west doorway is an outer order made of alabaster, considered the earliest known use of this material in England. This allows you to focus on a specific architectural detail rather than only considering the church's general period of construction.
Tutbury Museum explores the town's broader social history, particularly in the 19th and 20th centuries. Its perspective complements the older history of the castle and church with more recent developments. The summer schedule lists opening hours of 1:30 pm to 4:00 pm Wednesday to Friday, and 10:30 am to 4:00 pm on Saturdays. As these hours are seasonal and may change, check the schedule for your visit.
Tutbury's industrial history can also be viewed across more than one time period. The Silk Mill (Georgian Crystal) was built for William Lombe in the early 18th century. Separately, the history of glassmaking in Tutbury dates back to 1472. The early date for glassmaking should therefore not be confused with the later construction of the Silk Mill.
Walks and Different Types of Routes
Walks along the River Dove pass views of Tutbury Weir. Be sure to take local path conditions into account. The Tutbury Heritage Walk is a circular route devised by the Tutbury Civic Society; it is one of the Heritage Walks in East Staffordshire. Riverside views and a heritage walk specifically designed as a circular route offer different options if you would like to include a walk in your trip.
Another option is the self-guided Tutbury & Hatton Rails to Trails Walk. It starts and finishes at local stations on East Midlands Railway's Northern Line. This option focuses both on independent exploration and on the connection to the railway stations. Check current train services before travelling, as routes and railway connections may change.
When planning your trip, it helps to distinguish between the themes: the castle and its earthworks offer an introduction to archaeological and political history, the church draws attention to a specific medieval architectural detail, and the museum focuses on the social history of the 19th and 20th centuries. The walks complement these historical themes with the River Dove and Tutbury Weir. Which of these aspects you choose to focus on can shape your stay in Tutbury.
Discover more destinations: Rolleston-on-Dove, Burton-upon-Trent, Tamworth, Brocton, Dunston, Kinver, Lichfield, Leek.
For the broader travel overview: Staffordshire.
