Ashby Manor, Ashby St Ledgers, Northamptonshire

We all know how the rhyme goes...

‘Remember remember the fifth of November, gunpowder treason and plot’ and the person we most associate with this act of treachery is Guy Fawkes. Although he was caught red handed underneath the House of Lords, the Yorkshireman was only one of thirteen conspirators. And conspiracy central was a beautiful manor house here in Northamptonshire!

The leader of the treacherous plotters was a Northamptonshire gentleman, Robert Catesby. He was attractive, charismatic, and passionate in his beliefs. His Roman Catholic family had endured persecution for their faith since the Reformation of Henry VIII, and Catesby had hoped that the new Scottish king, James I, would have a more tolerant attitude. It soon became clear that this was not the case. So Catesby and his conspirators planned an apocalyptic conflagration to assassinate the King and the Royal Family, the Lords and the Bishops at the State Opening of Parliament.

Northamptonshire, then as now with its central location and easy access from all over the country, was the ideal location to meet. The conspirators met at Catesby’s family home at Ashby St Ledgers in Northamptonshire. Legend has it that meetings were held in a half timbered room above the gatehouse where they could not be overheard. Here they hatched a dastardly plan to replace King James with his Roman Catholic daughter, the nine year old Princess Elizabeth.

Sadly for the conspirators, they were betrayed by an anonymous letter written to warn a relative not to attend parliament on the 5th of November. It is suspected that the weak link was another Northamptonshire gentleman, Sir Francis Tresham. He and Catesby were cousins brought up together, and both families suffered religious persecution for their Catholicism. The letter was sent to Tresham’s brother-in-law Lord Monteagle, due to attend the opening of Parliament. On receipt, Monteagle handed the letter to Robert Cecil, the Secretary of State, and the game was up.

The cellars under the House of Lords were searched, and the gunpowder and Guy Fawkes were taken. The conspirators fled north up Watling Street, regrouping at Ashby St Ledgers to decide what to do next. They decided to continue their attempted coup, desperately rushing further North, pleading with their sympathizers for support. But there was no help forthcoming, and the conspirators were all either captured, or shot. Catesby himself survived an accidental fire during an attempt to dry out his gunpowder at Holbeche House in Staffordshire, but there he and another conspirator were both hit by a single lucky gunshot. Those conspirators not killed in the fracas were captured, and convicted of treason. Their hideous fate was to be hung, drawn and quartered. Although Catesby died and was buried at Holbeche, his body was later exhumed and decapitated, his head displayed along with those of the other conspirators outside Parliament House.

And what of Guy Fawkes, whose effigy we burn on our bonfires? Tortured horribly for days before he confessed, Guy cheated the hangman at the last minute by falling off the scaffold, breaking his neck and dying instantly.

Today Ashby Manor House’s beauty belies the bloodthirsty plans made in its environs. The house continued to develop architecturally and today is a harmonious combination of styles from its early mediaeval origins through to the early 20th century Lutyens additions. It is very much a family home albeit a gracious and stately one, and is being restored back to its earlier glory. Although it is not currently open to visitors, it is available for private hire. A perfect place for a very exclusive and special occasion!

For more information, please visit www.ashbymanorhouse.com