In 1501, Arthur, Duke of Cornwall, had all of England at his feet. As the eldest son of King Henry VII, he was heir apparent to the throne. His contemporaries considered him the great hope of the freshly forged Tudor dynasty. And at the age of 16, he had just married his sweetheart, the Spanish princess Catherine of Aragon.

Destiny, however, had different ideas. The couple – now proclaimed Prince and Princess of Wales – moved to Ludlow Castle to rule over their estate. But by spring, Arthur had succumbed to a mysterious illness. The Great Tudor Hope was dead.

The tragic tale of Prince Arthur is rife with 'what-ifs'. Similarly, with its medley of eras and influences, the prince's suite speaks of a life started in earnest but never quite lived.

The oak panelling in the lounge, for instance, is England through and through.

The stately furnishings, chosen by designer Paula Crump, hint at the king that could have been. Take the bed, resplendent in rich, earthy green and guarded by four proud posts. And the elegant sofa, which takes pride of place before the imposing panelled hearth.