The History of Abington Manor

If you love history then you will love this location.

The Manor House would have been at the centre of the village listed in the Domesday Book.

The name Abington is Saxon and probably means Ab’s farm and was definitely a settlement at the time of Domesday.

The manor house we see today was built in the 15th Century and was home to Shakespeare’s last remaining relative, his granddaughter Elizabeth Bernard who is buried at the church not far away.

In 1669, vast parts of the original Manor House were demolished to make way for a larger, more lavish extension, retaining of course, the Great Hall and Oak Room.

In 1845, Abington Manor was sold to a Londoner who leased out the Manor to Dr Octavius Pritchard who used the property as a mental asylum. It remained as an asylum until 1892. Conditions in the asylum are not believed to have been overly cruel or unpleasant, however it has been reported that during this time two patients hung themselves. The property further exchanged hands in 1897 when it was given to the people of Northampton. It has remained as a museum until present day.

The History of Holme Pierrepont Hall

So if you like history and ancestry, then this location is perfect for you.

Descending from a Norman family the Pierreponts originally came over with William I in 1066 and settled in Nottinghamshire in 1280.

The Pierrepont family later acquired wealth which allowed them to build the Tudor manor house you see today which dates back to 1500.  The buildings have undergone additions and alterations over the years but the house still remains one of the most historically significant country houses in the East Midlands.  It has some of the earliest brickwork in the county.

Through the centuries, the Pierrepont name died out as the females of the families married and this is now the family home of the Brackenbury family, who are direct descendants of the Pierrepont family.

Holme Pierrepont Hall has had several notable ancestors, including Georgina Brackenbury who was a renowned artist and militant suffragette.

The Hall was requisitioned for military purposes in both World Wars and used for a training camp for young soldiers. The Hall was left unoccupied between wars but today remains a family home.

The History of Sulgrave Manor

Sulgrave was originally a priory which surrendered to the Crown during the dissolution of the monastery. In 1540 three manors were sold together which included Sulgrave and was purchased by Laurence Washington a Wool Merchant and former Mayor of Northamptonshire.

In time he would be referred to as 5th times great grandfather of George Washington, the first president of the United Sates in 1789

The manor remained in the family for 3 generations before being sold to a Reverent Moss Hodges in 1673 and later purchased by the trust in 1914

In the 18th century The Culworth Gang were very active in the area, notably William Abbot the Parish Clerk of Sulgrave and a member of the Culworth Gang allegedly hid ill gotten gains in the church collection box and never performed a service without two loaded pistols. He was eventually caught and transported overseas for highway robbery

The History of Belgrave Hall

Belgrave Hall an amazing 18th century building and was home to several families throughout its time as a family dwelling.

Built in 1709 by Edmund Cradock, a Leicester hosiery merchant, the building was completed in 1713 unfortunely Edmund and his dear wife Ann died only two years after its completion.

The house, fronting onto Church Road, on a site adjacent to Belgrave Church. The house is a three-storey building, and you can still see today the lead rainwater heads with the Cradock family crest, some of which have a 1709 date and others with 1713.

Belgrave Hall has been home to many wealthy business men over the years, and all the owners have played a key part to the economic, social and charitable life of the community.

The family of John Ellis purchased Belgrave Hall in 1845 and were noted for their good work in the community. Ellis, a wealthy businessman, was responsible for bringing the railway to Leicester in 1833.

A house demolished and rebuilt 4 times

Originally built as a deer park in the 13th century the house would have initially been built around an enclosed courtyard.
The house has been demolished and rebuilt a total of 4 times however the courtyard area has remained unchanged.

The Herrick family owned this property as a family residence for 350 years but in 1939 the building was taken over by the Ministry of Defence and worked as a sub listening station to Bletchley Park.

The History of Donington Le Heath Manor House

It is believed that Robert De Herle bought the land and had the house built between 1258 & 1295.

For nearly 700 years the house remained a family dwelling.

In the early part of the 16th century, the house was modernised and it was around this period the house may have been owned by the Digby family, who were caught up in the War of the Roses and the Battle at Bosworth.

And as history tells us, Sir Everard Digby achieved notoriety as one of the conspirators in the Gunpowder Plot in 1605; as an associate of Guy Fawkes.  His crimes would see him meet a ghastly demise.

The house was let to several families over the years and as there was no money to renovate, many of the original features from the past remain.

With so much history and so many families who once lived here, there is no question that Donington Le Heath 1620’s Manor House is haunted!