Coughton Court is a lovely Tudor country house close to Alcester in Worcestershire.
The estate was acquired through marriage by the Throckmorton family in 1409, though construction of the house itself did not begin until the early 1500's.
Ownership eventually passed to the National Trust in 1946, though the family continue to hold a 300 year old lease. Part of the house is currently occupied by Mr Magnus Birch-Throckmorton.
Coughton Court very much retains the feel a family home. Little details, such as the collection of hats put together by Lady Throckmorton during her extensive overseas tours, lend a delightful personal touch. It's easy to imagine history being made here.
The Throckmortons were a Catholic family who put up stern resistance to the Protestant reformation. Sir Francis Throckmorton, in particular, was the principal mover behind the 'Throckmorton Plot' in 1583, an ill-fated attempt to assassinate Queen Elizabeth I and restore Roman Catholicism by putting Mary Queen of Scots on the throne.
A few years later, in 1605, the house also played a part in the Gunpowder Plot. Whilst the Throckmorton family were not privy to it they had let out the house to one of the conspirators. A small group fled there after the Plot failed, only to be captured.
Evidence of the long history of Catholic resistance can be found throughout the house, including a priest hole and the Tabula Eliensis, a controversial cloth hanging which commemorates the persecution of many prominent Catholics during the reign of Elizabeth I.
So much rich history to see.
Yours as ever,
electrofried(mr)
Like the house? Why not explore the gardens, too?
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