Clawson Old Manor, Leicestershire

Behind a medieval tithe porch overlooking a fishpond dug around 1070, this monastic grange was rebuilt as a gentry house with long gallery from 1570 to 1600. The gent concerned tried witches at Belvoir, and defaulted on his mortgage, after which the owners and occupiers didn’t do a lot to the place. A proper family home, oozing with history, 17th-century graffiti, apotropaic marks, etc.

Financed out of the income from the great tithes of Claxton, alias Clawson, Sir Edward Hastings, of Leicester Abbey, fourth son of the second Earl of Huntingdon, started this house about 1580, and his son Sir Henry of the Newark finished it around 1600. The house seems to have lain empty until 1627 when Henry’s wife died, and he took up residence here as a recluse. Henry probably intended it for his second son Richard, who showed his constant interest in the place by carving his name with pride on the windowsills and the wall plaster. Richard’s elder brother, also Henry, married Jane Sacheverell at St Remigius’ Church on July 22nd 1641 by special licence, hiring the house for the occasion and leaving graffiti to mark it, as by then his father had handed the keys to the bankers and moved to Humberston. Come the middle of the century and the end of the Civil War the house was old fashioned and dilapidated. Its three south gables were taken off, and it was divided into two farmhouses. Around 1850, it was put back together, but remained a farmhouse. Although there are many surviving houses that look similar from the outside, this is very rare having kept so much of its early insides.

Tickets £22 including tea and cakes.

What our visitors say:

• We are gradually working our way around all the HH in the UK. We have seen some fantastic places from all moments in history, but today we saw something special. A real home. Not just a museum or a place frozen in time but a real lived-in and loved house. Thank you for the opportunity to see it. The period costume was great as well.
• Met and escorted around by owners in Tudor costume. Wonderful restoration of a building previously on ‘at risk ‘ register. Interesting talk on history of house given in church with hot drinks and mince pies served. Saw all rooms of house, including attics. Medieval fish pond. Our two groups loved it! Very good for a Christmas outing.
• An entertaining and educational tour of a unique house. Lived in and obviously loved by the present owners who delivered an engaging tour (in period costume) that never flagged in interest from start to finish. This is not your usual frozen in time history piece. This is living history. A very personal tour. Tea and cakes in the church. Nice touch.
  

Greeted or guided by the owner