Donington le Heath Manor House Museum
Encyclopedia
Donington le Heath Manor House Museum is a surviving example of a family home built around seven hundred years ago in Donington le Heath
, near the town of Coalville
, Leicestershire
.
The manor house has been home to many families and was once owned by one of the famous Gunpowder Plot
ters. Donington le Heath Manor House Museum is managed by Leicestershire County Council
.
Some of the features of the house along with tree-ring dating of the timbers in the roof show that the Manor House was heavily modernised around 1618. It appears that at this time, the downstairs storerooms were converted into a kitchen and a parlour. A new roof was put on and the rooms upstairs were remodelled with a new internal staircase. Externally, the most obvious addition from this period are the large rectangular mullioned windows. At this time, the house was probably owned by John Digby
, whose elder brother, Everard Digby
was a close friend of Guy Fawkes
and was executed in 1606 for his part in the Gunpowder Plot
.
From 1670 to 1960, the house was rented out as a tenant farm and Leicestershire County Council
bought the Manor House in 1965 to preserve the building for future generations. The Manor House was opened as a museum in 1973.
Sir John Digby fought at the Bosworth Battlefield in 1485 for Henry Tudor. When Henry defeated king Richard III and became king Henry VII he would have rewarded his supporters and it may be the case that he gave back the lands that the Digbys had lost in 1462 for their opposition to the previous kings.
During 1574, the property was owned by Everard Digby
. Everard was a close friend of Guy Fawkes
and he was executed in 1606 for being one of the Gunpowder Plot
ters.
The Manor House is noted for its lively series of monthly events that use re-enactment, crafts, hands-on activities and specialist demonstrations to interpret Leicestershire's history and archaeology
to visitors of all ages.
The Museum also houses the stone barn Classics Tea Room, which serves home made cakes, light meals and refreshments from 11 - 5.
The Museum is accredited by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA)
.
produce an Events Guide that lists all Donington le Heath Manor House Museum events.
.
Donington le Heath
Donington-le-Heath is a historic settlement lying just over a mile away from the centre of Coalville in North West Leicestershire and merges with the adjacent village of Hugglescote ....
, near the town of Coalville
Coalville
Coalville is a town in North West Leicestershire, England, with a population estimated in 2003 to be almost 33,000. It is situated on the A511 trunk road between Leicester and Burton upon Trent, close to junction 22 of the M1 motorway where the A511 meets the A50 between Ashby-de-la-Zouch and...
, Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
.
Gunpowder Plot
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
ters. Donington le Heath Manor House Museum is managed by Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council is the county council for the English non-metropolitan county of Leicestershire. It was originally formed in 1889 by the Local Government Act 1888. The county is divided into 52 electoral divisions, which return a total of 55 councillors. The council is controlled by...
.
History
The museum is based in a medieval manor house, believed to date back to 1280. From the style of the architecture of the parts of the building and from tree-ring dating of some of the timbers still present, the present house at Donington was probably built between 1288 and 1295.Some of the features of the house along with tree-ring dating of the timbers in the roof show that the Manor House was heavily modernised around 1618. It appears that at this time, the downstairs storerooms were converted into a kitchen and a parlour. A new roof was put on and the rooms upstairs were remodelled with a new internal staircase. Externally, the most obvious addition from this period are the large rectangular mullioned windows. At this time, the house was probably owned by John Digby
John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol
John Digby, 1st Earl of Bristol , was an English diplomat and a moderate royalist during the English Civil War.- Early career :...
, whose elder brother, Everard Digby
Everard Digby
Sir Everard Digby was a member of the group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Although he was raised in a Protestant household, and married a Protestant, Digby and his wife were converted to Catholicism by the Jesuit priest John Gerard...
was a close friend of Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes , also known as Guido Fawkes, the name he adopted while fighting for the Spanish in the Low Countries, belonged to a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.Fawkes was born and educated in York...
and was executed in 1606 for his part in the Gunpowder Plot
Gunpowder Plot
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
.
From 1670 to 1960, the house was rented out as a tenant farm and Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council is the county council for the English non-metropolitan county of Leicestershire. It was originally formed in 1889 by the Local Government Act 1888. The county is divided into 52 electoral divisions, which return a total of 55 councillors. The council is controlled by...
bought the Manor House in 1965 to preserve the building for future generations. The Manor House was opened as a museum in 1973.
Gunpowder Plot
Donington le Heath Manor House was owned, during the 15th and 16th Century, by the Digby family.Sir John Digby fought at the Bosworth Battlefield in 1485 for Henry Tudor. When Henry defeated king Richard III and became king Henry VII he would have rewarded his supporters and it may be the case that he gave back the lands that the Digbys had lost in 1462 for their opposition to the previous kings.
During 1574, the property was owned by Everard Digby
Everard Digby
Sir Everard Digby was a member of the group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Although he was raised in a Protestant household, and married a Protestant, Digby and his wife were converted to Catholicism by the Jesuit priest John Gerard...
. Everard was a close friend of Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes
Guy Fawkes , also known as Guido Fawkes, the name he adopted while fighting for the Spanish in the Low Countries, belonged to a group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.Fawkes was born and educated in York...
and he was executed in 1606 for being one of the Gunpowder Plot
Gunpowder Plot
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
ters.
Museum
Visitors to the Manor House can see restored rooms and displays on medieval life as well as a series of temporary exhibitions on a wide range of subjects. The house is set in recently recreated 17th century style gardens with flower gardens, an orchard, herb gardens and a maze.The Manor House is noted for its lively series of monthly events that use re-enactment, crafts, hands-on activities and specialist demonstrations to interpret Leicestershire's history and archaeology
Archaeology
Archaeology, or archeology , is the study of human society, primarily through the recovery and analysis of the material culture and environmental data that they have left behind, which includes artifacts, architecture, biofacts and cultural landscapes...
to visitors of all ages.
The Museum also houses the stone barn Classics Tea Room, which serves home made cakes, light meals and refreshments from 11 - 5.
The Museum is accredited by the Museums, Libraries and Archives Council (MLA)
Museums, Libraries and Archives Council
The Museums, Libraries and Archives Council is a non-departmental public body in England and a registered charity with a remit to promote improvement and innovation in the area of museums, libraries and archives...
.
Events
Leicestershire County CouncilLeicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council is the county council for the English non-metropolitan county of Leicestershire. It was originally formed in 1889 by the Local Government Act 1888. The county is divided into 52 electoral divisions, which return a total of 55 councillors. The council is controlled by...
produce an Events Guide that lists all Donington le Heath Manor House Museum events.
- Apple Day (October) The annual celebration of the English apple. Games, craft, tastings and juice making to try.
- Gunpowder, Treason and Plot (November) Learn about the Gunpowder Plot in a house owned by Sir Everard Digby, one of the Gunpowder PlotGunpowder PlotThe Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
ters: demonstrations of gunpowder, living history displays, scenarios, children's crafts and more. - Regular Medieval Banquets at the Classics Tea Room (throughout the year).
Educational resources
Donington le Heath Manor House Museum also has an experienced education team that can offer a wide range of workshop and outreach sessions which aim to make learning fun for children in LeicestershireLeicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
.