Spotlight on: Thrumpton Hall

With a mesmerizing history dating back to the 16^th century, Thrumpton Hall is simply brimming with character and charm. Beginning as a medieval house belonging to the Powdrill family who were friends with Anthony Babington from the closely located village of Kingston. He became the instigator of the Babington Plot to put Mary on the throne instead of Elizabeth I. Anthony Babington was hanged, drawn and quartered and the Powdrills escaped with only the loss of the property. Thrumpton Hall then fell into the hands of the Pigotts who lived there from 1605 to 1685 for many happy years before being forced to hand it over to their lawyer who forced foreclosure on their massive mortgage. However, it is thanks to the investment through that mortgage that the house was transformed into a much grander mansion with its incredible staircase and brand new carved saloon centrally dropped. After their removal, the lawyer John Emerton and his family took on the house, passing it down through generations until the great, great niece and later heir Lucy Wescomb, who was married to Lord Byron’s cousin. As Lady Byron she presided over the house, village and church from 1912 till 1938 and during this time restored the church and ran a brewery from the back of the Hall offering tipples to all the workforce. This lady’s ownership led to one of our main rooms being called the “Wescomb Room”. The team Thrumpton Hall today hope one day to restore the historical Byron brewery to its fully working function. The Honeymoon Suite also is linked to Byron, as his daughter Ada regularly stayed in the south bedroom. The house then came to a more current state, being acquired by George Seymour, Miranda’s father who took over the house in 1950 and restored it again from its derelict home post war into its current beauty. Those who have had the pleasure of visiting the Hall find it thoroughly polished and exceptionally well maintained. Miranda inherited the home in 1994 and for the past seven years it has been accommodating wedding and corporate business. Within this time, the Lakeside Pavilion was added into the estate, situated breathtakingly alongside the Hall and ornate lake. The grounds surrounding Thrumpton Hall are incredible: secret knot gardens, formal rose gardens complete with peonies, lilies and delphiniums. Trees create the secluded and personal atmosphere, encasing the spacious lawns that sweep out towards a landscaped park. Thrumpton Hall is truly breathtaking. Thrumpton Hall is open for public tours, and also for wedding hire. For something special, enjoy a performance of outdoor theatre in the grounds of Thrumpton Hall, when the Twelfth Night is performed on 6 August.