Ashby Manor House: 900-Year-Old Gem

Ashby Manor House in Nottinghamshire, first mentioned in the Domesday Book, is one of the most intriguing and historic houses in England.

The famous manor was initially given as a gift to Hugh de Grandmesnil by William the Conqueror and passed to various other occupants until 1375.

Hugh de Grandmesnil (1032 – 1098), is one of the proven companions of William the Conqueror, pictured below, known to have fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.

Subsequently, he became a great landowner in England.

From 1375 to 1611, however, the ancient manor was home of the Catesby family.

In 1605, Robert Catesby and his fellow conspirators, including Guy Fawkes, gathered in the Manor’s gatehouse.

Gatehouses usually contained multiple traps and obstacles to foil any intruder.

Here, they famously conspired to assassinate King James I and his courtiers by blowing up the Houses of Parliament in one of England’s most notorious acts of treason, the Gunpowder Plot.

The manor's central location was convenient to the houses of the Catesbys' many friends and relations, which supposedly made Ashby St Ledgers a type of 'Command Centre' during the planning of the famous plot.

In the room above the Gatehouse, with its privacy from the main house and clear view of the surrounding area, Robert Catesby, his servant Thomas Bates and the other conspirators are said to have planned a great deal of the Gunpowder Plot.

Catesby was killed with some other plotters at Holbeche House, whereas his servant was executed in the following January.

Following Robert Catesby's death in 1605, the manor was confiscated by the crown as the property of a traitor.

But the manor was later returned to his son, George.

A brief history of Robert Catesby, the principal leader and driving force behind the Gunpowder Plot.

He was born into a staunchly Catholic family during a time when England was predominantly Protestant, and tensions existed between these religious factions.

Catesby was disheartened by the persecution of Catholics in England and felt that violent action was necessary to restore Catholicism's status in the country.

He was the primary instigator of the plot and recruited other like-minded individuals, including Guy Fawkes, Thomas Percy, and others, to join the conspiracy.

Catesby's plan was to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament in 1605, with the aim of killing the king and many government officials.

However, the plot was uncovered, leading to the arrest and execution of several conspirators, including Catesby himself.

In the aftermath of the failed Gunpowder Plot, Catesby was pursued by authorities.

He was eventually found and killed in a confrontation at Holbeche House in Staffordshire, in November 1605, a few days after the plot was discovered.

His death marked the end of the immediate threat posed by the conspiracy, although its repercussions lasted for many years in England.

Following his death, the Manor House passed down the male line to Robert Catesby’s father, Sir William Catesby.

William Catesby managed to hold on to the property in spite of massive debts caused by recusancy fines and years of imprisonment for his brave adherence to the Roman Catholic faith.

The Manor House comprises diverse architectural periods and styles.

It was masterfully integrated in the early 20th century by renowned architect Sir Edwin Lutyens under the patronage of industrialist Ivor Guest, 1st Viscount Wimborne.

The medieval core with Tudor and Jacobean additions had been modified significantly in the mid 17th century and the 1st Viscount’s partnership with Lutyens lasted for more than 30 years.

Neo-Jacobean plasterwork decorates the barrel-vaulted ceiling.

Framed architectural drawings of the various Guest family houses hang on the wall.

The house was further expanded throughout the 19th century and then under the ownership of the Wimborns extensively remodelled by Edwin Lutyens, who worked on it for 40 years.

He created a new garden façade and a new range with its own tower, and behind the Jacobean façade, new Edwardian rooms with the floor lowered to give added height to the interiors.

Rubble stone was used for the new building to blend with the original cut stone; some salvaged antique building elements were also used, including a complete medieval house from Ipswich that had been on exhibit in London in 1908

Within easy reach of London, today, the Manor House is available for private hire and is conveniently located for many local attractions such as the historic town of Stratford-upon-Avon.

The Manor House can accommodate up to 20 people, offering a variety of rooms to suit both adults and children.

You can find out more and book a room via their website.

If you’d like to visit, their address is: Ashby Manor House, The Manor House, Ashby St Ledgers, Rugby CV23 8UN.

If you’d like to see more photos of the interior of the beautiful Manor House, keep scrolling :)

The Gunpowder Plot

The Gunpowder Plot was a failed conspiracy in 1605 by a group of English Catholics to assassinate King James I of England and VI of Scotland, as well as many members of the House of Lords.

They attempted to blow up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament on November 5th.

The plotters hoped to restore a Catholic monarch to the throne.

The group, led by Robert Catesby, included notable figures like Guy Fawkes, who became the most well-known conspirator.

They managed to place 36 barrels of gunpowder in the cellar beneath the House of Lords.

However, the plot was uncovered when an anonymous letter warning a Catholic nobleman was sent, leading to a search of the cellars and the discovery of Guy Fawkes guarding the explosives.

Fawkes, pictured above, was arrested, tortured, and eventually revealed the names of his fellow conspirators.

Most of them were either killed resisting capture or arrested and executed.

The event is commemorated every year in the United Kingdom on November 5th with fireworks and bonfires, known as "Bonfire Night" or "Guy Fawkes Night."

The failure of the Gunpowder Plot led to stricter anti-Catholic measures in England for a period of time.

Check out more photos of the Manor House below:

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