Thornbury

Thornbury, town in England, administrative headquarters of South Gloucestershire unitary authority. It is located 19 km (12 mi) to the north of Bristol, less than 5 km (3 mi) from the site of the original Severn Road Bridge. Within the town lies the historic Thornbury castle that dates from the start of the 16th century. Henry VIII beheaded the 3rd Duke of Buckingham, the castle's original founder, on the charge of treason soon after the castle's completion, and the castle and lands passed into the king's control. Henry's daughter Mary Tudor subsequently lived here for a number of years until she became queen. The castle was later returned to the descendants of the late Duke and remains a central feature of Thornbury today. The town’s population is 12,108 (1991).