Pictures of Badminton

About Badminton

Badminton is a picturesque Cotswold village in Gloucestershire, famous for its horse trials and for Badminton House, which has been the principal seat of the Dukes of Beaufort since the late 17th century, after the family moved there from Raglan Castle in Wales which had been ruined in the English Civil War. It is said that within the Great Hall of Badminton House, the sport of Badminton was invented by the children of the eigth duke during a particularly harsh winter, the featherweight shuttlecock being the solution to stop the life-sized portraits of horses by John Wootton getting damaged as they played. Whether this is true or not, the game of Badminton certainly has a connection with the house, and is certainly where the game of Badminton was popularised, if not invented.

Badminton House is also host to the famous Badminton Horse Trials, which is a five-day event during April or May, which takes place in the grounds of Badminton House and is hosted by the Duke of Beaufort. The event first took place in 1949 in order to let the British riders train for international events and was considered to be "the most important horse event in Britain" at the time, and in 1956 the event first became televised.

The village itself is well worth exploring and has many picturesque cottages and buildings to admire, including the 11th century gate lodge at the entrance to Badminton Park. Private tours of the beautiful Badminton House are available, and weddings and parties can be booked there too.

Badminton Image Collections