Coughton Court

This was the last of our trips

Set in beautiful gardens Coughton Court is an imposing Grade I Tudor house with Jacobean additions.

Of all the eras Tudor is my favourite, closely followed by Jacobean

The Throckmorton family have been living at Coughton since 1412. Their house, Coughton Court, is now open to the public through the National Trust. The oldest part of Coughton Court probably dates from the time of Henry VIII, but the property has seen many alterations since. 

John Throckmorton married heiress Eleanor De Spiney. Their wealth and power gradually increased by service to the Beauchamp Earls of Warwick, and to the Crown.

The Throckmortons were a staunchly Catholic family, and they suffered for it. Refusing to recognise Henry VIII's reformation, resisting the annulment of Katharine of Aragaon, and, it is thought that Sir George Throckmorton remarked that Henry should not marry Anne Boleyn because "it is though that you (Henry VIII) have meddled with both the mother and the sister". Tis a brave or foolhardy man who would say that to the King.

In the 16th century they were fined for recusancy and not attending the parish church. They were indirectly involved in the Gunpowder Plot, when in 1605, Thomas Throckmorton went abroad and let Coughton Court out to one of the chief conspirators, and were lucky to escape with their lives and property intact. The Parliamentarians plundered and confiscated the property during the Civil War, but it was restored to the family in 1651. 

The family were good at surviving! The current Throckmortons now live in one of the wings.

The Blue Drawing Room

It took ages to get this photo, there is always someone in the way!

This smock is said to have been worn by Mary Queen of Scots at her execution in 1587. Mary was executed under instruction of her cousin Elizabeth I, as she was a threat to the English throne. Many catholics thought that Elizabeth was illegitimate and that Mary was the rightful heir to the throne.

Lacemaking

        19th century leather prayer book

The Grand Saloon

This portrait of Anne Throckmorton dates from 1729. She was Prioress of a Paris convent. Her position meant that she had an important role in sustaining the family's faith and social status. Far from being cliostered and forgotten, English Catholic nuns on the continent had a degree of political independance not afforded to them at home in England.

This is where the family kept all their outdoor stuff. I love the little dog in the basket.

The gardens are beautiful, and would have been stunning in June and July

There are lots of beautiful roses, all with gorgeous scents

Now looking forward to our next holiday in Cornwall

∼ Be safe and well ∼ 

Polly x