This is one of those properties which can only happen in England. Owned by the Throckmorton Family since 1409 and still managed by them in spite of the fact that the overall running and costs have been born by the National Trust for some years. If this were France or Germany then the property would have fallen into the hands of the State and lost much of its magic becoming a museum rather than a family home of great historical importance, and involved in English history it was. The main conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605 planned their deeds and some escaped here after the capture of Guy Fawkes. There is a very interesting exhibition, outlining the major events and the relationship with the Throckmorton Family, in the grounds.

The gardens are being developed, or should I say redeveloped all the time and the Lady of the house has added several new gardens as well as planting the immediate front and rear with yew specimens to give a feeling of Tudor splendour and wealth. The Elizabethan style knot garden in the Courtyard was opened in 1992 and in 2003 the Mary Copse memorial garden has been completed as a lasting testimony to the hard work of one of the Trust's most loyal workers.

 

All photographs by Anthony Blagg.

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