The History of Guys Cliffe House

What a great location for history lovers?!

Guy’s Cliffe has been occupied since Saxon times and derives its name from the legendary Guy of Warwick. Guy is supposed to have retired to a hermitage on this site, this legend led to the founding of a chantry in 1423 and the rock-carved stables and storehouses still remain.

The house has had many uses and notably a hospital during World War I and in the World War II became a school for evacuated children. Guy’s Cliffe estate was broken up and sold in 1947. The new owner of the house intended to convert it into a hotel, but these plans came to nothing and the house fell into disrepair. The steady and sad decline of this historic site is now the romantic partial ruin we see today.

If you love varied history, architectural beauty and the paranormal this is the perfect venue for you to visit.

The History of Newstead Abbey

Contrary to its current name, Newstead was never actually an abbey: it was a priory.

It was built during the 12th Century and even today, some of the original medieval characteristics of the building remain.

It is truly an amazing place to visit with 800 years of history to behold.

In the late 13th century, the priory was rebuilt and extended. It was extended again in the 15th-century, when the Dorter, Great Hall and Prior’s Lodgings were added.

The priory was designed to be home to at least 13 monks, although there appears to have been only 12 (including the Prior) at the time of the dissolution.

During the 19th Century, Newstead Abbey was the home to the famous poet Lord Byron. In 1818, he sold the house and grounds and during the Victorian era, other families resided here.

There is so much history associated with Newstead Abbey and we would love you to join us to discover more about the people who once lived here…

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.